The Easel

Archives: Ingrid Rowland

7th June 2015

Bernini: He Had the Touch

For 17th century popes, Bernini was the go-to guy for busts and sculptures. Besides being affable and highly religious he worked tirelessly and could be relied on to finish a commission. Inspired by Caravaggio’s natural style, he took Baroque sculpture to its zenith. Looking at a terra cotta model, Pope Innocent reportedly said “the only way to resist executing one of his works is not to see them”.