An Elephant in Rome: Bernini, The Pope and The Making of the Eternal City

by Loyd Grossman

By 1650, the spiritual and political power of the Catholic Church was shattered. Thanks to the twin blows of the Protestant Reformation and the Thirty Years War, Rome, celebrated both as the Eternal City and Caput Mundi (the head of the world) had lost its pre-eminent place in Europe. Then a new Pope, Alexander VII, fired with religious zeal, political guile and a mania for building, determined to restore the prestige of his church by making Rome the must-visit destination for Europe's intellectual, political and cultural elite. To help him do so, he enlisted the talents of Gianlorenzo Bernini, already celebrated as the most important living artist: no mean feat in the age of Rubens, Rembrandt and Velazquez.

Together, Alexander VII and Bernini made the greatest artistic double act in history, inventing the concept of soft power and the bucket list destination. Bernini and Alexander's creation of Baroque Rome as a city more beautiful and grander than since the days of the Emperor Augustus continues to delight and attract.

'A total delight' - Simon Jenkins.

Genres: Italy, History, Art, Nonfiction, Architecture, Art History, European History

320 pages, Hardcover

Published July 30, 2020

About the author

Loyd Daniel Gilman Grossman, OBE, FSA (born 16 September 1950) is an American-British television presenter, gastronome and musician who has mainly worked in the United Kingdom. He is currently a judge on ITV Food series Food Glorious Food.

Grossman was born in Marblehead, Massachusetts on 16 September 1950, the son of David K. Grossman and Helen Katherine (née Gilman). His father was Jewish and worked as an antiques dealer. His initial education was at the General John Glover School in Marblehead, and then at Marblehead High School. He graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history before going to the United Kingdom in 1975 to study at the London School of Economics where he received a Masters in economic history.

Reviews

[Alisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Among my most vivid memories of my first trip to Rome was the extent of publicly placed sculpture. It is extraordinary, inspring, and an integral part of why Rome is known as The Eternal City. But the one piece that brings me sheer delight is Bernini's elephant in Piazza della Minerva situated in front of the medieval church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva. (The ceiling frescoes in that church are stunning, BTW.) Since then, I have learned that Bernini was one of the most influential artists of his time and instrumental in creating much admired pieces that capture the Baroque period. This book is the story not only of the adorable little elephant and how he came to be, but offers a vignette of the life of Bernini, the Popes who became his patrons, and the rise and revitalization of Rome in the 1600s. I dabble in books about the papacy, its inhabitants and how they wield power. At times there was more papal history than art history in this book, but the author did a great job of weaving it all together in a spirited narrative. This was an unexpectedly fun and interesting book, very enjoyable.

It's not a travel guide, however would be a worthy read in advance of a trip to Rome even for those who have been there previously. In the back there is an obelisk walk of Rome that describes thirteen obelisks including directions for a walk to take them all in, ending at St. Peter's.

[Barbara · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved every word of this book. My husband and I are great lovers of Bernini’s Rome and I savored every page. The author made everything come alive with wonderful storytelling skills and fabulous pictures. I’ve recommended the book to all my friends who love Rome.

[Liam Ostermann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I must begin by admitting that when I saw the title of this book I was immediately interested and at first delighted to discover that it was available in a library. When the book arrived I nearly sent it back when I discovered who the author was (read my footnote*). I am glad I didn't because it is a lovely book both in terms of content and production, with plenty of photographs (and of course with the internet it is simplicity itself to look up and find illustrations of mentioned, but non-illustrated, buildings or works of art.

It is not a great book about Bernini or the creation of Baroque Rome - it is rather a work of love by a man who knows and loves Baroque Rome (and probably grew up with and was educated in places by people who regarded the Baroque and Bernini with the greatest disdain) and the work of Bernini. It reminded me of James Lee Milne's book on St Peter's, full of wonderful stories, and characters but not in any way academic but enough to wet the appetite to know more.

If you are going to Rome it is a wonderful book to read beforehand, it is completely readable and pleasant but, if you once begin to analyse it, rather bitty and all over the place in narrative and ridiculous simplistic in historical terms.

Because of my irrational prejudice I am giving four stars, probably one more then it really deserves but it is a very pleasing book, the illustrations are excellent and the layout and typeface with echoes of the old Roman Missal very pleasing.

I found the least pleasing part of the book a walking tour of Rome's various obelisks because it also deviated into a guide book like recommendation of restaurants and cafes. I may be very singular in my disinterest in restaurant recommendations but it is the sort of information that dates rapidly and a book on historic buildings is the last place I would go for a source to chose eating establishments in Rome.



*My wariness with regards to the author Loyd Grossman atises from a TV show called 'Through the Keyhole', a silly programme which for those my generation carried a burden of immense metaphorical import. It was created and first presented by David Frost, a name which probably means nothing of any significance to anyone under fifty. But for those of us old enough to remember the 1970's David Frost was a journalistic giant, he was the man that Nixon and the Shaw of Iran went to tell their stories and answer before the bar of history for their deeds. He was right up there with Woodward and Bernstein of Watergate fame and then 'sic transit gloria' there he was creating and presenting a bit of fluff like 'Through the Keyhole' and his role Inquisitor of the mighty had been taken, not by a journalist, but by the talk show host Oprah Winfrey whose only threat to the celebrities she interviewed was that they might succumb from a lethal dose of excess sycophancy, rather like Heliogabalus's dinner quests to his shower of rose petals.

[Olivia-Amy Turton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Think this book sometimes loses its vision, however overall it’s a great encapsulation of Bernini’s work and it’s relationship with the papacy.

[Litar · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic read! I love Bernini’s work and have seen the majority of his *chefs-d'œuvre* in Rome and around the world. When I got this book, I expected it to be an analysis of some of his sculptures, but that is not actually its core focus. In fact, I would even say the book is rather reserved when it comes to analyzing Bernini’s work. However, it provides a fascinating window into the past—into the world of the papacy and, in particular, the unique and highly productive relationship between Bernini and Alexander VII. It offers incredible insights into the forces that enabled the transformation of Rome’s architecture and art.

The writing style is also excellent—it's hard to put the book down. Highly recommended!

[Peter · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful bio of Bernini and his relationships with his patron Popes. Great insights and perfect travel porn for these days without travel. And a terrific tour (with restaurant suggestions) at the end. I only wish the illustrations had been bigger but it’s a lovely edition.

[Paul Moloney · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quick and light read on Bernini's life and particularly his relationship with Pope Alexander VII (of the Chigo families) culminating in the erection of a discovered Egyptian obelisk on the playful statue of an elephant.

[Cameron · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant book on the life of Bernini.

[Gary Pelletier · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful, easy to read history of Bernini and the papal influence on Roman art in the 17th century.