A Month in Bella Italia

[Flutterby]

[Richprins]

Sounds like SA!

[Lisbeth]

[Flutterby]

On our third day in Rome we were going to the Galleria Borghese...an art gallery in the Villa Borghese gardens. These are landscaped gardens containing a number of buildings, museums and attractions. It is the third largest public park in Rome. The gardens as they are now were remade in the early nineteenth century. I even saw some Rose-ringed Parakeets!!





The Galleria Borghese houses a substantial part of the Borghese collection of paintings, sculpture and antiquities, begun by Cardinal Scipione Borghese, the nephew of Pope Paul V (reign 1605–1621). Scipione Borghese was an early patron of Bernini and an avid collector of works by Caravaggio.



Just another beautiful ceiling!! I had such a sore neck after our time in Rome from looking up all the time!



The highlight for me were the Bernini sculptures! In my opinion his works are better than Michelangelo's! His sculptures portray intricate detail, dynamic characters and intense emotion!!

David is a life-size marble sculpture which was completed in the course of seven months from 1623 to 1624. Is shows David about to throw the stone that brings down Goliath. Compared to earlier works on the same theme (notably the David of Michelangelo), the sculpture broke new ground in its implied movement and its psychological intensity.



The Rape of Proserpina was executed between 1621 and 1622. Bernini was only twenty-three years old at its completion. It depicts the Abduction of Proserpina, where Proserpina is seized and taken to the underworld by the god Pluto.



The detail is incredible!!



My favourite was Apollo & Daphne which shows Daphne's conversion from human to tree after she has been fated by Cupid's love-repelling arrow which denies the love of men.





San Girolamo by Caravaggio dates to 1605-1606.



There were so many beautiful artworks, but far too many to show here! It was so hot in Rome, but luckily there are fresh water fountains all over the place where you can refill your bottles with lovely cold water!!



This little doggie enjoyed cooling off in the fountain outside the gallery.

[Lisbeth]

The David by Bernini is marvellous

and then there is Caravaggio...........

I never got around to the Borghese Gallerie

[Flutterby]

Definitely worth a visit.

[Lisbeth]

Even if only for the Caravaggio

And it's a beautiful building

[Flutterby]

There were quite a few Caravaggio's so it was a real treat!

[Lisbeth]

[Richprins]

Spellbinding stuff, Flutts!

How on earth did those old artists get things so lifelike...without computers and proper tools?