Bernini, Pluto and Proserpina

Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Pluto and Proserpina (Persephone), 1621-22, Carrara marble, 225 cm high (Galleria Borghese, Rome)
A conversation between Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker

[@ElNietoPR]

You can actually see a tear on her face! She’s crying!

[@oNovais]

Don Kapsalon actually a lot marble sculptures has. But some statues of other materials such bronze, they made the eyes with separated materials like glass or porcelain, then they missed or broke out. But the intention is all old statues have eyes.

[@Alisa-bz4yt]

Who is the author of this story? Who wrote it?

[@im_b_b]

@@Alisa-bz4yt it's a myth. Myth of Hades and Proserpina. where Hades kidnapped Proserpina to make her his wife, and there's a lot more thing happened.

[@bereniceg777]

@@im_b_b are Pluto and Hades the same person...cuz I remember the story where Persephone was abducted by the God of the Underworld?

[@im_b_b]

@@bereniceg777 Pluto is the Roman version of the Greek god Hades.

[@jordang7479]

I could listen to this discussion for hours!

[@bereniceg777]

are Pluto and Hades the same person...cuz I remember the story where Persephone was abducted by the God of the Underworld?

[@jordang7479]

@@bereniceg777 I think so.

[@romuald5198]

Bernini is the greatest sculptor of his era, he's as great as Michelangelo was before him

[@PygmalionFaciebat]

Thats so hard to decide for me if Bernini is as great as Michelangelo. Both fulfilled different desires in the art.. Michelangelo is anatomical superior to Bernini in my opinion - but that doesnt makes Bernini necessarly less - because: Bernini captures the crescendo of a moment of feeling and living and breathing much better than Michelangelo did. On the other hand, that wasnt Michelangelos need. Michelangelo wanted (also according his own words) show the 'creations of god' in the most dignity way - in that sense Michelangelo seemed for me much more like a cristallization of the ''biggest way'' how forms can shown. Even if his sistine chapel has a lot of barock elements he puts in 100 years before barock, the ground tone stays : to show the monumental soul of forms - while Bernini catches us in a total different way... He let us forget about dignity, and he catches us as humans... we can relate to his artworks, because they are like ourselfs: breathing the moments... living the moments.. living our flesh nature... feeling and enjoying these fleshy moments...connecting with our heart. Its so hard for me, to tell, who was greater... Bernini is for me a master of time... While Michelangelo is the master of forms. Dont get me wrong: its incredible how much Bernini understood about anatomy. But at Bernini i saw, that he begin to idealize - a thing which will much more important in the Rokokko later...And the idealizing elements (say for instance the face) can be boring fast - from an artistic view. Michelangelo often sacrificed beauty to his artistic expression. At his artwork i see rough manly bodis of females , often also non-finitos, or even lazy worked out faces (also in his sistine chapel work). Often he gives elements of non finitos in his art, which will appreciated and used much later by Ronin. In that case, Michelangelo was much more bold artisticly spoken. But on the other hand, Michelangelo isnt as lightweighted as Bernini. Bernini can make us believe, that stone can be light as a feather. Where Michelangelo is heavy... often as heavy, that he squishes us, with his art, Bernini feels like he take us with his stoney wings,and flies away with us... Its easy.. we dont need to look long, to be catched. The Brugger Madonna of Michelangelo is a good exampel for this heavyweighted serious stiffness... which makes us some kind of hard, to enjoy this artwork, even if we are impressed from it. Its just so hard to compare both ... or say: wether they are both great on the same level...or did someone of the both expressed and understood art in a better, bigger way... Maybe - but thats really a matter of taste, at so small differences : i would choose Michelangelo... There is something sacred about his artwork for me.. a beauty i dont really understand - and therefore it hooks me somehow more. Bernini's beauty i understand much more - because its easier - and therefore nothing is left, which isnt fully explained by the artwork itself.

[@bereniceg777]

are Pluto and Hades the same person...cuz I remember the story where Persephone was abducted by the God of the Underworld?

[@romuald5198]

@@bereniceg777 They're the same, Pluto is Hades's Roman name

[@romulusbuta9318]

@@romuald5198 Bernini is better then Buonarotti ☝️....Better ☝️

[@spooderderg4077]

@@PygmalionFaciebat I feel like the best comparison is David. While Michaelangelo's David is anatomically more accurate, he looks like some dude. Meanwhile Bernini's David looks like a man who could kill a giant in one strike. Full of raw anger and intent.

[@tawnyacyphers4559]

Ever since I saw a print and slide of this breathtaking sculpture in my Art Appreciation class twenty years ago, I have been dying to see it in person!!! Every time I look at it and see Pluto's fingers dig into Persephone's thigh, my heart flutters. I frequently remind my husband that I must get to Rome before I die so I can see it in person with my own eyes!

[@bereniceg777]

are Pluto and Hades the same person...cuz I remember the story where Persephone was abducted by the God of the Underworld?

[@DipityS]

When you pointed out the swirl of fabric - it caught my breath. I'd always been so focused on the real flesh like feel that I'd not noticed that a piece of the fabric flies out in one layer - imagine him carefully chipping away at stone to achieve that - the delicacy and skill. Amazing.

[@bereniceg777]

are Pluto and Hades the same person...cuz I remember the story where Persephone was abducted by the God of the Underworld?

[@titancloud]

These videos should be mandatory before starting life.

[@TheMasagirl]

This sculpture is unbelievable!

[@KaiserTota]

This is probably my favourite sculpture ever, I wondered when you would do a video on it, thank you very much.

[@smaakjeks]

+Antonio No wonder! It's magnificent!

[@nevin5588]

so mine…. such a living sculpture

[@bereniceg777]

are Pluto and Hades the same person...cuz I remember the story where Persephone was abducted by the God of the Underworld?

[@dorothy.6266]

@@bereniceg777 Yes, Plutón​ es el dios del inframundo en la mitología romana y en la griega es Hades

[@giannigom9483]

@@dorothy.6266 Pluto is god and Hades is the place

[@ToledoWingNut]

I stood before this extraordinary piece, shook my head and muttered, “Impossible.” Oh, to watch the master turn a block of marble into this! Thanks for your wonderful series of presentations.

[@bereniceg777]

are Pluto and Hades the same person...cuz I remember the story where Persephone was abducted by the God of the Underworld?

[@smaakjeks]

Wow! Utterly breathtaking piece!

[@radicalfranklin1202]

This was the standout piece during my visit

[@rrcw320]

What a masterful narration by two Masters of history and art. My favorite of Bernini described by my favorite curators

[@shanport2004]

Every time I go to Rome I am drawn to see it one more time. Has to be one of my all time favourites. Thanks for providing your comments on this peice.

[@allertonoff4]

Yay .. Bernini Rocks my tiny world ! .. thanks for posting.

[@f2afinito983]

Honestly I could listen to them all day

[@marlonmalloy834]

those curls, the hand that grips the legs are made of marble! that's insane!

[@evamarie2628]

I was floored in villa Borgese by this sculture, one of my favourite ever, i keep a postcard of it on my wall

[@bradpolak6793]

It's a stunning sculpture I'm glad it's in the middle of the room so you can see it from all angles

[@Kanal7Indonesia]

The detail is so unbelievable.. so beautiful... 😍

[@georgiosgrigoriadis2577]

simply beautiful..many thanks!

[@Soloohara]

Bernini, the GREATEST OF THEM ALL

[@yapol5134]

THIS IS PERFECTION.

[@platonic5085]

The definition of perfection

[@VAunderlineI]

Damn, I am so happy to have discovered this channel, great content as always 👌🏻

[@bereniceg777]

are Pluto and Hades the same person...cuz I remember the story where Persephone was abducted by the God of the Underworld?

[@frederikrichter4932]

Beautifully described. It's fascinating me whenever you talk about art.

[@bereniceg777]

are Pluto and Hades the same person...cuz I remember the story where Persephone was abducted by the God of the Underworld?

[@HamoodiClash]

So what did police do regarding this crime ?

[@RCTurbo79]

These were once living ...impossible to sculpt

[@bluesque9687]

How does a Bernini or a Michaelangelo do the modeling to get the proportions and expressions and intricacy so precise before they commit to Marble???!! Needless to say that just to imagine what they eventually sculpt is genius beyond comprehension!!!

[@przybyla420]

I would think they worked from a scale clay model, perhaps switching to a live model to add the fine details, or maybe the clay sculpture was completely detailed. They used dividers to transfer measurements. Alongside mallet and chisel, a lot of the detail was done with drills and hand held scraper tools, if you’ve ever scraped the peel off a carrot with a knife blade, that sort of action. Drills allow you to rough out very deeply recessed areas like the folds in fabric and hair, now after drilling out the bulk you can use chisels. Carving this would have involved hundreds of tools, but most not fancy or hard to make, even in those days.

[@bereniceg777]

@@przybyla420 are Pluto and Hades the same person...cuz I remember the story where Persephone was abducted by the God of the Underworld?

[@Takeru9292]

How do sculptors work and make these so lifelike and realistic?! Like seriously I want to learn myself!

[@bereniceg777]

are Pluto and Hades the same person...cuz I remember the story where Persephone was abducted by the God of the Underworld?

[@najwasabilayusuf1611]

This is really really late but yknow just in case anyone else is wondering. Yes Pluto and Hades are the same person. Hades is the Greek name and Pluto/Pluton is the Roman name. Bernini was an Italian so he would've used Pluto instead of Hades but at the end of the day they're essentially the same person

[@victorianidetch]

Imagine the gift of making marble seem like flesh.

[@AlexandreReis_Contemplo]

Top sculpture de l'époque baroque 👏👏👏

[@theharbingerofconflation]

I'd argue that Cerberus different heads are caught between emotions as well

[@htf5555]

Beautiful

[@NishitSoniYT]

Wow! 😍

[@andrekillwill]

FAÇAM MAIS VIDEOS DE ESTATUAS.NETUNO-PLEASE.

[@hayrifrat785]

Çok güzel bir işçilik, Turgutlu'dan selamlar 🌍💚🌳

[@KevinDixon]

This is magic! but real quiet shhhhh

[@plate.armour_0996]

ART IZ LIFE

[@user-zi3xl4gl6x]

도망가는 페르세포네를 잡고있는 느낌이야.

[@dan6506]

Poor Proserpina! Can you imagine how Pluto God of the death and Underworld smells like? Looks like she's 💨👃felt the stench of Pluto's breath 🗣💨👃

[@Sasha0927]

You'd think a guy looking like that could just pull if he wanted to pull, lol. Look at his thick curls and the muscles in his back.. Anyway, this is another incredible work by Bernini - so intense and beautifully detailed. The note about the composition being an X was funny, given the circumstances. I bet it is...😅

[@sindijajanuma4901]

Sasha what do you mean when you say the composition being an X was funny. Given what circumstances exactly? Kind regards, Sin

[@SeraphimLUX]

Yeah hammer and chisel... May be CNC?

[@smarthistoryvideos]

3D printing? Nope, just hammer and chisels, files and abrasives, practice and patience.

[@przybyla420]

I reckon a lot of scraping was involved. Like shaving with a straight razor. They’re used by wood carvers and on bone, ivory, horn, etc. All different shapes and profiles, like chisels and gouges. A little talked about tool that gives you much much more control and exerts less pressure so you don’t snap off a lock of hair or something.

[@Roterodami]

He was only 23

[@idontwantachannel7542]

I know y'all do art but I thought you might be interested to know that not all of the myths refer to Proserpina's father, suggesting she doesn't have one; the she is the result of parthenogenesis or "virgin birth".

[@smarthistoryvideos]

Its important to keep in mind that there are almost always numerous variants of Greek and Roman myths, often with opposing narratives. Thanks for calling that out.

[@Rudrakxh]

Protect this sculpture from environmentalist activists.

[@sindijajanuma4901]

Preach

[@marcelcilibiu227]

IL IMIT PE BERNINI SI DE TIN IN BRATE LA ROMA DACA MERGI CU MINE.😅 CE MA FAC CA FETITA A LUAT UN PIC IN GREUTATE.

[@marcelcilibiu227]

SARUT MANA CE FACI? ZI CEVA CA SIMT CA MOR.

[@anatheistsopinion9974]

Does it count as rape culture?

[@przybyla420]

Carved by a straight, white man, I’ll let you do the math please share your results.

[@paperinik69]

What an intelligent comment

[@carelesscamel]

​@@paperinik69they're not wrong

[@paperinik69]

@@carelesscamel yeah you must be very intelligent too

[@carelesscamel]

@@paperinik69 hell yeah I am 😍 thanks for the compliment

[@gfrtube8547]

can you do more videos about islamic art