Ratto di Proserpina, Bernini, Galleria Borghese, Roma

All works will be signed on verso with an accompanying certificate stating title, edition number, date and signature.

Aurelio Amendola’s photograph of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s “The Rape of Proserpina” captures the sculpture from the front, focusing on the faces of Proserpina and Pluto. Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s sculpture “The Rape of Proserpina” was created between 1621 and 1622. The sculpture depicts a dramatic scene from Roman mythology where Hades (Pluto), the god of the underworld, abducts Proserpina (Persephone) to make her his queen. The sculpture captures the intense moment of abduction, with Hades gripping Proserpina while she struggles to escape, her face contorted in distress and his in determined desire. Bernini masterfully portrays the dynamic movement and emotional intensity of the scene, highlighting the physical struggle and the detailed textures of the flesh and drapery.

The angle of the photograph presents the entire sculpture, emphasizing the dramatic action and emotional intensity of the scene. The photograph highlights the intricate details of the sculpture, such as the tension in Proserpina’s struggling form and the determined grip of Hades. The lighting in Amendola’s photograph enhances the textures of the marble, drawing attention to the realistic portrayal of flesh and the dynamic movement captured by Bernini.