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Bernini
Sculptor and architect Bernini was the virtual creator and greatest exponent of Baroque in 17th century Italy. He has left his greatest mark on Rome where Papal patronage provided him with enormous architectural commissions.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BerniniList of Plates
List of Text Figures
Foreword
Introduction
1. The Prodigy
2. Bernini in Command
3. Disaster and Triumph
4. Two Churches and St. Peter’s
5. Le Cavalier en France
6. The Late Works
Bibliographical Note
Notes to the Text
Index
TABLE OF CONTENTS
BerniniList of Plates
List of Text Figures
Foreword
Introduction
1. The Prodigy
2. Bernini in Command
3. Disaster and Triumph
4. Two Churches and St. Peter’s
5. Le Cavalier en France
6. The Late Works
Bibliographical Note
Notes to the Text
Index
255 pages, Paperback
First published February 28, 1966
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577 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews
January 24, 2008
Bernini will always be my favorite sculptor--his works are so incredibly lifelike, I sometimes have a difficult time believing that they are only made of stone.
I picked this book up for a class in college and it covers the topic brilliantly, complete with several black and white images with good close-ups as well.
I picked this book up for a class in college and it covers the topic brilliantly, complete with several black and white images with good close-ups as well.
December 26, 2008
Another great book by my favorite art historian. I especially loved the part where Bernini disses french art and architecture, telling the french artists they could have been great had they only gone to Rome. Much more readable than most art history it only took me a few days to read and I felt that I learned many things. Not really recommended for people that aren't art nerds and/or into baroque art. I was slightly disappointed that it wasn't more biographical, instead focusing on the art, color pictures would have been nice as well. The book verifies my theory that you can pretty much point to anything in Rome and say Bernini made that, and you will probably be right. This was my 40th book of the year, so that's pretty good for me, I think I will aim for 52 next year.
August 8, 2023
Excellent, concise, chronological treatment of Bernini’s works in context. Thoroughly illustrated, smooth read.
Read
November 3, 2020Gran libro que nos acerca un pouco máis ao que, sen dúbida, é o gran xenio do século XVII.
August 10, 2018
"Bernini's personfications are not bloodless anagrams but lifelike actors who participate in our world while belonging to another."
For me the life course of Bernini is naturally logical. As if he was already distined to greater things. Brought up in the Vatican, born into a scupltural surrounding, he immersed himself into it. His most distinctive characteristic that is he saw life within two ways. A 3d sculpturing view. And a 2d drawing view. He was the one who introduced art to the architechuric fountains in Italy. His first commisioned work was at fifteen.
This book is a documentary work worth of reading.
This book is very recomendable.
For me the life course of Bernini is naturally logical. As if he was already distined to greater things. Brought up in the Vatican, born into a scupltural surrounding, he immersed himself into it. His most distinctive characteristic that is he saw life within two ways. A 3d sculpturing view. And a 2d drawing view. He was the one who introduced art to the architechuric fountains in Italy. His first commisioned work was at fifteen.
This book is a documentary work worth of reading.
This book is very recomendable.
January 25, 2016
Great little primer on the works of Bernini. Beautiful descriptions of most of the larger works were crafted by the biased Hibbard which made for a more enjoyable read o what could have been a dry discussion. The only drawback is that the book is older and contains only black and white images. If you haven't seen the works, you really need to Google the pieces or buy an accompanying volume with color photos.
March 12, 2023
I thought maybe this book was going to take me ages to read during Uni. Turns out we had a good chunk of our course readings/materials dedicated to this book.
Fascinating read and has great pictures and details of Bernini's life work. He's still one of my favorite sculptors of all time.
Ahh Gianlorenzo 💚
Fascinating read and has great pictures and details of Bernini's life work. He's still one of my favorite sculptors of all time.
Ahh Gianlorenzo 💚
June 13, 2010
A decent overview of the artists ouvre, however I think I would have enjoyed it more if Hibbard had included more biographical information on Bernini. I enjoyed the discussion on his David the most and even tracked down some of the articles listed in his bibliography.
May 28, 2010
Writing was a little dry, but an excellent source for Bernini lovers. This was recommended to me in a class I took by one of the best art historians in America, Dr. Robert Westin.
November 11, 2025
Baroque and Roll
I bought this book more than forty years ago on my first visit to Rome, having become aware that Bernini was the architect of St Peter's Square in front of the basilica (along with many of the sculptures and decorations inside that building), and have taken it along on subsequent visits - most recently last week. It's a detailed, chronological account of Bernini's work as a sculptor and architect which describes his "technical virtuosity [as allowing] him to paint in marble" [p88]. The book doesn't consider his - comparatively minor - work as a painter, but notes his comment during his address to the French Academy during his 1665 visit: he said "that painting was easier since the sculptor can't add to his statue what he learned while doing it; it represents what he knew when he started, while a painting shows what the painter knew when he finished" [p175].
His genius as a sculptor is immediately illustrated by his three early masterpieces - "Pluto and Persephone", "Apollo and Daphne" and "David" - which were all carved for Cardinal Scipione Borghese, and can still be found in the Galleria Borghese. There's an engaging description of - possibly - his greatest creation: the "Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" which - prompted by this book - I first sought out on a visit twenty years ago, and took my family to view again last week. The author describes how Bernini was inspired by Teresa's account of the vision of an angel in her autobiography and, being a "profoundly devout Catholic", wanted to make her hallucinatory experience "as real and as concrete as possible" [p137. The author believes he succeeded in this aspiration; after carefully pointing out the features of the sculpture, he suggests that we "ultimately participate in a religious experience of our own, aided by the mystic concretion hovering before our eyes" [p138].
In addition to the sculpture, the book contains useful descriptions of Bernini's design of St Peter's Square, the baldachin over the high altar, and the Fountain of the Four Rivers in the Piazza Navona, along with other examples of his work throughout our travels around the city which - fittingly - concluded by visiting his grave in Santa Maria Maggiore. A great book, strongly recommended.
I bought this book more than forty years ago on my first visit to Rome, having become aware that Bernini was the architect of St Peter's Square in front of the basilica (along with many of the sculptures and decorations inside that building), and have taken it along on subsequent visits - most recently last week. It's a detailed, chronological account of Bernini's work as a sculptor and architect which describes his "technical virtuosity [as allowing] him to paint in marble" [p88]. The book doesn't consider his - comparatively minor - work as a painter, but notes his comment during his address to the French Academy during his 1665 visit: he said "that painting was easier since the sculptor can't add to his statue what he learned while doing it; it represents what he knew when he started, while a painting shows what the painter knew when he finished" [p175].
His genius as a sculptor is immediately illustrated by his three early masterpieces - "Pluto and Persephone", "Apollo and Daphne" and "David" - which were all carved for Cardinal Scipione Borghese, and can still be found in the Galleria Borghese. There's an engaging description of - possibly - his greatest creation: the "Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" which - prompted by this book - I first sought out on a visit twenty years ago, and took my family to view again last week. The author describes how Bernini was inspired by Teresa's account of the vision of an angel in her autobiography and, being a "profoundly devout Catholic", wanted to make her hallucinatory experience "as real and as concrete as possible" [p137. The author believes he succeeded in this aspiration; after carefully pointing out the features of the sculpture, he suggests that we "ultimately participate in a religious experience of our own, aided by the mystic concretion hovering before our eyes" [p138].
In addition to the sculpture, the book contains useful descriptions of Bernini's design of St Peter's Square, the baldachin over the high altar, and the Fountain of the Four Rivers in the Piazza Navona, along with other examples of his work throughout our travels around the city which - fittingly - concluded by visiting his grave in Santa Maria Maggiore. A great book, strongly recommended.
August 27, 2017
A fine primer for understanding the contribution of one of the greatest sculptors in history; this short book, replete with black and white photos, also helps to educate the reader on Italian baroque art.
Hibbard is an unabashed and uncritical lover of Bernini's work and spends most of the writing on his sculpture. Bernini was an accomplished architect and occasionally painted. Except as these talents relate to sculpture Hibbard is silent.
There is scant coverage of the subjects personal story and in no way is this to be considered a biography. Bernini had a fascinating and long life which overlapped with the great men and women of the 16th century and to hear that take a reader will need to look elsewhere. The book is a fast, easily digested review of most of Bernini's most important sculptures and will be a valuable resource for anyone touring Rome as this reviewer will be doing in a short time.
Hibbard is an unabashed and uncritical lover of Bernini's work and spends most of the writing on his sculpture. Bernini was an accomplished architect and occasionally painted. Except as these talents relate to sculpture Hibbard is silent.
There is scant coverage of the subjects personal story and in no way is this to be considered a biography. Bernini had a fascinating and long life which overlapped with the great men and women of the 16th century and to hear that take a reader will need to look elsewhere. The book is a fast, easily digested review of most of Bernini's most important sculptures and will be a valuable resource for anyone touring Rome as this reviewer will be doing in a short time.
March 20, 2025
VOLVED A IMPRIMIRLO EN ESPAÑA por favor. adoro a Bernini es de lo mejor del barroco (por no decir el mejor). me encanta leer la relación de los artistas con sus protectores y más cuando son papás y MÁS cuando hay problemas de por medio (Inocencio X). bueno y q decir de la relación de Bernini con los franceses pffffffff. q más decir de la vida de Bernini no puedo añadir nada más porque sino no callaré jamás
February 14, 2021
Standard study but often dry
This is certainly a scholarly book, but not always exciting reading. Bernini was a genius, but I do not find all of Hibbard's judgements valid. The illustrations are not of high quality. This is a great pity. It is good that Bernini's architecture is treated seriously. I have seen some of his work; for that I am gratefu!
This is certainly a scholarly book, but not always exciting reading. Bernini was a genius, but I do not find all of Hibbard's judgements valid. The illustrations are not of high quality. This is a great pity. It is good that Bernini's architecture is treated seriously. I have seen some of his work; for that I am gratefu!
October 2, 2017
A nice overview of the artist that covers many of his works and presents him from a point of view stemming from various sources. It does a good job for its length, but as always it would have been more interesting if it went further in depth into the sculptors life.
July 9, 2017
Loved it, gave good background for trip to Rome. Nice long section on St Theresa in Ecstacy (cover pic) was my favorite part.
January 9, 2019
Excellent overview of the life and works of this genius. Its only flaw is that the pictures are only black and white, rather than that an extremely pleasant read and observation of Bernini's genius.
May 24, 2019
Inspirational.
Want to read
June 21, 2023It is a good book
Read
November 23, 2023i technically skimmed it but i read enough to know that bernini was really that guy
October 13, 2008
I'm reading this for the third time. I love Bernini. We have a special exhibition on Bernini's portrait busts(the FIRST exhibition EVER on Bernini in North America!) right now at the Getty.
October 12, 2015
Very informative, especially if your reading it while in Italy actually studying his works first hand! What an experience!
August 8, 2007
Bernini is one of my all time favorite artists, and this book is a quick summary of his work.
August 4, 2011
Wonderful!
Displaying 1 - 23 of 23 reviews