ID-2242-1 Baroque Sculpture

What artistic period and region does this unit focus on?

Italian Baroque sculpture of the 17th century

Who is the most important sculptor of the Italian Baroque?

Gian Lorenzo Bernini

What years did Gian Lorenzo Bernini live?

1598–1680

What artistic qualities define Bernini’s sculpture?

Dynamism, melodrama, theatricality, and viewer engagement

Who sculpted David?

Gian Lorenzo Bernini

When was David sculpted?

1623

What is the name of this sculpture? [photo provided]

David

What biblical story does David depict?

David preparing to strike Goliath

What moment does Bernini’s David capture?

The moment of action just before the stone is released

How does this differ from Renaissance depictions of David?

Renaissance Davids depict calm contemplation, not action

What type of form does Bernini’s David use?

Open form

Why is David considered dynamically composed?

Twisting body, diagonal movement, and implied motion

What is contrapposto?

A stance where weight is shifted onto one leg, creating naturalistic tension

How does contrapposto function in David?

It increases tension and prepares the body for motion

What material and process were used to create David?

Marble, subtractive process

Who sculpted Apollo and Daphne?

Gian Lorenzo Bernini

When was Apollo and Daphne sculpted?

1624

What is the name of this sculpture? [photo provided]

Apollo and Daphne

What literary source inspired Apollo and Daphne?

Ovid’s Metamorphoses

What moment does Apollo and Daphne depict?

Daphne transforming into a laurel tree

Why is this moment significant?

It captures transformation at its climax

How does Bernini show transformation in marble?

Leaves sprouting from fingers and bark forming on skin

What type of form is Apollo and Daphne?

Open form

Why must the viewer move around the sculpture?

Key narrative details are revealed from multiple angles

Who sculpted Pluto and Persephone?

Gian Lorenzo Bernini

When was Pluto and Persephone sculpted?

1633

What is the name of this sculpture? [photo provided]

Pluto and Persephone

What mythological source informs Pluto and Persephone?

Ovid’s Metamorphoses

What moment is depicted in Pluto and Persephone?

Pluto abducting Persephone into the underworld

How does Bernini convey violence and emotion in this sculpture?

Flesh appears to compress under Pluto’s grip

What formal feature heightens melodrama in Pluto and Persephone?

Diagonal composition and exaggerated gesture

What is positive plasticity?

Solid, projecting sculptural mass

What is negative plasticity?

Voids and open spaces within a sculpture

How are positive and negative plasticity used in Pluto and Persephone?

Interlocking bodies and deep recesses enhance drama

Who designed the Baldacchino at St. Peter’s?

Gian Lorenzo Bernini

When was the Baldacchino completed?

1633

What is the name of this work? [photo provided]

Baldacchino, St. Peter’s Basilica

What is a baldacchino?

A ceremonial canopy placed over an altar

Where is the Baldacchino located?

Over the high altar at St. Peter’s Basilica, Rome

What materials were used in the Baldacchino?

Bronze and gilt ornament

What compositional pattern dominates the Baldacchino?

Strong vertical emphasis

Why is the Baldacchino site-specific?

It marks the tomb of St. Peter beneath the altar

How does the Baldacchino function architecturally?

It bridges sculpture, architecture, and ritual

Who created the Ecstasy of St. Teresa?

Gian Lorenzo Bernini

When was the Ecstasy of St. Teresa completed?

1652

What is the name of this work? [photo provided]

Ecstasy of St. Teresa, Cornaro Chapel

What text describes St. Teresa’s mystical experience?

Interior Castle by St. Teresa of Ávila

What moment is depicted in the Ecstasy of St. Teresa?

Teresa pierced by an angel in divine rapture

Why is this work considered melodramatic?

It depicts spiritual ecstasy as physical and emotional intensity

How is tenebroso used in the Ecstasy of St. Teresa?

Hidden light creates strong contrasts and spotlighting

What role does the Cornaro Chapel play in the work?

It acts as a theatrical setting

Who are the figures in the side boxes of the chapel?

Members of the Cornaro family observing the scene

What type of space does the Ecstasy of St. Teresa occupy?

An open spatial envelope integrated with architecture

How does the viewer’s vantage point affect interpretation?

The viewer becomes part of the staged religious experience

What is tenebroso?

Dramatic contrast between light and dark

How does tenebroso function in Baroque sculpture?

It heightens emotion and directs attention

What is dynamism in sculpture?

The illusion of movement and energy

What is melodrama in Baroque art?

Heightened emotional and theatrical expression

What is meant by content in sculptural analysis?

The subject matter, narrative, and meaning of the work

What is meant by formal analysis in sculpture?

The physical and visual organization of the sculpture

What are the two main sculptural processes?

Additive and subtractive

What is the subtractive process?

Material is carved away from a solid mass (e.g., marble carving)

What process did Bernini primarily use?

Subtractive

What does symmetry mean in sculpture?

Balanced arrangement of forms on either side of an axis

What does asymmetry mean in sculpture?

Uneven arrangement that creates movement and tension

Which is more common in Baroque sculpture: symmetry or asymmetry?

Asymmetry

What is an open form sculpture?

A sculpture meant to be viewed from multiple angles

What is a closed form sculpture?

A sculpture that presents a single, stable viewpoint

Which form is typical of Bernini’s work: open or closed?

Open form

What are vertical patterns associated with?

Stability, monumentality, and upward movement

What are diagonal patterns associated with?

Action, instability, and motion

Which pattern dominates Baroque sculpture: diagonal or vertical?

Diagonal

What are implied lines in sculpture?

Suggested movement created by gesture, gaze, or body direction

How do implied lines function in Bernini’s sculptures?

They guide the viewer’s eye and suggest narrative motion

What is positive plasticity?

Solid, projecting sculptural mass

What is negative plasticity?

Voids and spaces carved into or between forms

Why is negative plasticity important in Baroque sculpture?

It enhances dynamism and depth

What is site-specific sculpture?

Sculpture designed for a particular location

Which Bernini work is strongly site-specific?

Ecstasy of St. Teresa

Why is viewer vantage point important in Baroque sculpture?

The meaning unfolds as the viewer moves around the work

How does Baroque sculpture engage the viewer physically?

It occupies the viewer’s space and demands movement