Name: The Rape of Proserpina
Date: 1621-1622
Artist: Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Location: Galleria Borghese,
Approximate Dimensions: 255 cm
Medium: white marble
Sources of info: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proserpina http://www.mlahanas.de/Greeks/Mythology/
TheRapeOfProserpinaBernini.html
Picture taken by: http://media.somewhereinblog.net/images/1148878113_tushonblo.jpg
Significance of the work:
Bernini was only 23 years old when he sculpted The Rape of Proserpina. In ancient mythology, the goddess Venus, in order to increase happiness of Pluto—the god of the underworld—instructed cupid to pierce him with an arrow of love. When Pluto emerged from the Volcano of Mt. Etna, he caught sight of his niece, Proserpina, daughter of Jupiter, playing with the nymph. Falling instantly in love with her, he abducted her and carried her below the earth to Hades. At the objection her parents, Pluto agreed to allow Proserpina to return to earth for six months out of every year. As a result she has been called the goddess of springtime, for when she returns, the earth is once again green and full of life.
Bernini's principal patron Scipione Borghese funded the creation of this masterpiece, but then gave it to Cardinal Ludovisi in 1622, who took it to his villa. It remained there until 1908, when the Italian state purchased it and finally returned it to the Galleria Borghese where it can be viewed today.
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