Baroque- Bernini's Apollo and Daphne

 

Apollo and Daphne, Bernini courtesy of Borghese Gallery

Background

This sculpture was created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and finished in 1625 as a commission from Cardinal Scipione Borghese. The sculpture itself depicts the story of Apollo and Daphne from Ovid's Metamorphoses, in this story Apollo was shot by Cupid's arrow and pursues Daphne who rejects him. Despite this Apollo continues his pursuit until Daphne prays to her father, a river god, who turns her into a laurel tree. When you get close-up views of the piece you can see her hands and hair transforming into branches, and parts of her skin turning into tree bark.

A video from Smarthistory about the story of Apollo and Daphne as well as more angles and a closer look

Baroque influence

The video above also does a great job explaining the Baroque elements of the culture. 

As Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker discuss in the video, Bernini captures the moment Daphne is just starting her transformation into a laurel tree which a lot of Baroque art does, it captures a moment just before something happens and has a tense atmosphere. The figures are not stable like many of the Renaissance sculptures are, there are curves and Apollo himself is in motion and on one foot. The faces express emotion and the viewers can see the tension and feel the drama of the piece.

Comparing to the Renaissance

Bacchus, Michelangelo 1497 courtesy of The Art Story

Looking at Bacchus which was sculpted by Michelangelo, you can see the difference in styles immediately. In this piece despite Bacchus being drunk, he is still in a stable stance and both feet touching the ground. There aren't any dramatic curves through the sculpture as in Baroque art, and I find it harder to read his expression as anything but blank. 

While Michelangelo is indeed a master, you can see the difference in the drama and emotions expressed in the different eras of art. Renaissance art focused on beauty and perfection, while Baroque focuses more on the tension and emotions the piece are supposed to convey. The best way I think of it is that Renaissance art focuses more on the after or even during an event, while Baroque is the moments leading up to the event or just as the event is happening.

The Council of Trent's Influence

The Council of Trent were three sessions that took place between 1545 and 1563, this was the Catholic Church trying to come up with ways to counteract the Protestant Reformation. They wanted all works of art, from paintings to songs, to be easier for an everyday person to understand which was very different from the Mannerist approach. They also wished for art to hold morals and values within them. Bernini agreed with the Council of Trent that art should be easily understood and invoke emotions in the viewer, which can be seen in his works. 

Members of the church are were among his commissioners during this period, such as Cardinal Scipione Borghese, and even Pope Urban VIII. Along the bottom of Apollo and Daphne, there is an inscription in Latin "Those who love to pursue fleeing forms of pleasure, In the end find only leaves and bitter berries in their hands", which was a poem by Pope Urban VIII. This inscription gives this sculpture that is based on mythology, a moral that is taught in the churches.

My Thoughts

This is one of my favorite pieces by Bernini, the emotions and movement he was able to capture within the sculpture are amazing. Not only that but how he was able to capture this in-between moment as Daphne is starting her transformation is what I love about it. I hope to one day see it in person to really appreciate the details and look at it from multiple angles. Theoretically, I would own this piece or a replica, but realistically I wouldn't have the space for it. 

I really enjoy more of the art within the Baroque period than the Renaissance, I find the style more appealing and how emotional and dramatic the pieces are. 

Sources

“Apollo and Daphne by Bernini.” Galerie Borghèse, 2 Aug. 2019, borghese.gallery/collection/sculpture/apollo-and-daphne.html.

“Apollo and Daphne.” Artble, 19 July 2017, www.artble.com/artists/gian_lorenzo_bernini/sculpture/apollo_and_daphne. 

Cooper, James F. “Bernini.” Newington-Cropsey Cultural Studies Center, 2008, www.nccsc.net/essays/bernini. 

“Medici: Godfathers of the Renaissance . Renaissance . Counter Reformation.” PBS, Public Broadcasting Service, www.pbs.org/empires/medici/renaissance/counter.html.