Bernini: Genius of the Baroque [Hardcover]

Charles Avery (Author), David Finn (Photographer)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0821224654 | ISBN-13: 978-0821224656 | Publication Date: November 1, 1997

A beautifully illustrated testament to this great Baroque sculptorCharles Avery.

Gianlorenzo Bernini was one of the greatest artists of all time. World-famous for his uniquely powerful works of sculpture, he was also a virtuoso draftsman, a pioneering caricaturist, and a designer of gorgeous fountain displays. He even wrote plays.

Bernini virtually created Baroque Rome. Without his contributions, we could not walk across the Ponte Sant'Angelo escorted by the angelic statuary that he designed for its balustrades. The Basilica of St. Peter would not have the sonorous crescendo of Bernini's bronze Baldacchino over St. Peter's tomb. We could not enjoy the huge splashing water display and vigorous drama of the figures on his Fountain of the Four Rivers in the Piazza Navona.

Using much previously unpublished research, Charles Avery traces Bernini's career from his brilliant beginnings to his last mature works, including his architecture, and pays special attention to his techniques in drawing, modeling, and carving. 400 illustrations, 80 in color.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Wittkower's (1901-71) book, first published in 1955 and updated in 1966 and 1981, derives from an Italian edition of 1900. The text, which deals chiefly with the sculptures of this multifaceted Italian artist (1598-1680), is a classic. Though some of the entries have been updated and some new plates added, the main reason for this new edition seems to be its first issuance in paperback. This, and the fact that the color plates are less than stellar, mean that all but advanced art history collections can safely pass on this edition if they have earlier ones. Avery's book takes a broader look at Bernini, covering sculpture, drawings, models in terra cotta, urbanistic projects such as fountains, and his work for St. Peter's and other Roman churches. The color photographs are better than those in the Phaidon book, where they are separate from the text; neither title offers uniformly better black-and-whites. Avery (sculpture, Victoria and Albert Museum) writes well, offers more context and comparative illustrations, and draws on material unavailable to Wittkower in shaping his text. Avery is the choice for all but the most scholarly of collections, which will want both titles.?Jack Perry Brown, Art Inst. of Chicago Lib.
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Charles Avery is a specialist in European sculpture. He was Deputy Keeper of Sculpture at the Victoria and Albert Museum and a Director of Christie's, London. David Finn, one of the foremost photographers of sculpture in the world, lives in New York. --This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Bulfinch (November 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0821224654
• ISBN-13: 978-0821224656
• Product Dimensions: 12 x 10.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,128,778 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Must For Sculpter Lovers, October 29, 2000

By 

Barbara Haber "music lover" (pittsburgh, pa USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bernini: Genius of the Baroque (Hardcover)

This is a beautiful book. The works are shown from different angles,instead of just one frontal photo, so the reader gets the details of the work, with a good accompanying text. I accidently discovered this sculptor, and findto my surprise that some of his work is more appealing than some of the more famous artists of this genre. There is a great deal of detail, in fact, a whole chapter devoted to his fountains, particularly,The Fountains of the 4 rivers. I wish I had this book before I went to Rome and saw it in person. Any lover of sculpture will not be dissapointed with this purchase.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars As an American whose heart belongs "a Firenze e a Roma"..., March 22, 2004

By 

Paul D. Harvill - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Bernini: Genius of the Baroque (Hardcover)

Charles Avery does an excellent job summarizing Gian Lorenzo Bernini's life and works. This is probably the best introduction to Bernini available as a starting point -- there are many other books that give more exhaustive analysis, text, photographs and diagrams. As a starter, you will have chosen the best with this book.

From June to December 1976 I was a student on the Florida State University study program "a Firenze", which totally changed my life and world view, causing me to return almost ten times since 1976. Bernini is my favorite Baroque sculptor.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars check before you click, December 27, 2007

By 

S. Andrew - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Bernini (German Edition) (Paperback)

This is a beautiful book, however I did not scroll all the way down to see that it was printed in German. I have returned it for an English version.