Customer Reviews

Gianlorenzo Bernini (Masters of Art Series)

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I have the two main American books on Bernini; the Scribner and the Wittkower, plus the Scala edition by Maurizio Fagiolo from their "Great Masters of Art" series. Each book has something to commend it. Scribner's prose is by far the most passionate, easiest to read, and most informative for the general reader. The Wittkower is a bit dry and academic while the English translation of the Fagiolo is poorly done and shorter on material than either of the other two (understandable, since it's a shorter book).

On the other hand, the Wittkower contains far more photographic material than the other two. While many are in b&w, they still form the best record of Bernini's work to be had in book form. I don't know what Scribner's editors were thinking when they planned their edition (save money?). Inexplicably, it contains hardly any photographic close-ups or details of Bernini's work. For example, the Scribner's contains one full-length color plate of Pluto and Proserpine. The Wittkower has a full-length b&w plus seven different close-ups. The Scribner has one full-length color plate of the Ludovica Albertoni. The Wittkower has a full-length color plate, a close-up color plate, and five b&w close-ups. And how is anyone supposed to properly appreciately Bernini's multi-story Baldacchino in St. Peter's without close-ups?

Having seen a majority of Bernini's originals in person, I believe it is impossible to properly study or appreciate Bernini without the availability of the close-ups that really magnify his skill and genius, I would recommend buying the Wittkower over the Scribner. The Fagiolo has a good mix of photographs and is cheapest of all, but may only be available in Italy.

I have the two main American books on Bernini; the Scribner and the Wittkower, plus the Scala edition by Maurizio Fagiolo from their "Great Masters of Art" series. Each book has something to commend it. Scribner's prose is by far the most passionate, easiest to read, and most informative for the general reader. The Wittkower is a bit dry and academic while the English translation of the Fagiolo is poorly done and shorter on material than either of the other two (understandable, since it's a shorter book).

On the other hand, the Wittkower contains far more photographic material than the other two. While many are in b&w, they still form the best record of Bernini's work to be had in book form. I don't know what Scribner's editors were thinking when they planned their edition (save money?). Inexplicably, it contains hardly any photographic close-ups or details of Bernini's work. For example, the Scribner's contains one full-length color plate of Pluto and Proserpine. The Wittkower has a full-length b&w plus seven different close-ups. The Scribner has one full-length color plate of the Ludovica Albertoni. The Wittkower has a full-length color plate, a close-up color plate, and five b&w close-ups. And how is anyone supposed to properly appreciately Bernini's multi-story Baldacchino in St. Peter's without close-ups?

Since it is impossible to properly study or appreciate Bernini without the availability of the close-ups that really magnify his skill and genius, I would recommend buying the Wittkower over the Scribner. The Fagiolo has a good mix of photographs and is cheapest of all, but may only be available in Italy.

Bernini, the most eloquent spokesman for the Italian Baroque and the counter-reformation, shines incandescently in this brilliant book. Not many people know that Bernini's art, sculpture in particular, dominated the entire 17th century Italy unmatched to a degree even by Michelangelo's dominance in the precedent century - this book will tell you how and why, both visually and verbally. The writeup on the Ecstacy of Santa Therese alone is worth the price of the entire book.

I loved reading this majestic book by my distant cousin which surpasses any other art-history book that I or my collegues have ever read. Each page gives this resounding artwork a new meaning. Being an art-historian myself and writing books on Michelangelo Buonarrotti, I never knew of the talant and delicate touch that Bernini posessed. I recommend that anyone interested in art read this book immediatly.

An Extrordinary piece of literature and reference. Recomended to all who appriciate art.

This is a great book that helps you appreciate the beauty that is Rome. My husband I lived in Italy for a year and frequently took our guests to Rome. We would inevitably come across Bernini's fountains and sculptures in our touring of the city. The information contained in this book helped make our role of tour guide more interesting. Bernini and his students changed the appearance of Rome with their beautifully sculpted fountains throughout the city and beautiful statues in St. Peter's Basicila. If you have any interest in appreciating great sculpture, or simply wonder about the story behind some of the great fountains throughout Rome, then this is the book to buy.

Berniniis a master study of the master of sculpture himself. this volume explores the transformation of stone to living flesh. to understand sculpture one must see through the eyes of Bernini and touch the stone. Eric Garver

Scribner's fantastic book opened my eyes to the amazing world of Bernini. A beautiful and well-written work.

My appreciation of this book is primarily based on my desire to possess a few of the sculptures which it discusses. There have been philosophical attempts to equate beauty and truth, but the people responsible for such discussions seem to be information looters and shooters compared to the ability of Bernini to make a dynamic representation of father time ripping the covers off of truth. There is just a sketch to show what Bernini had in mind regarding father time, but the sculpture for truth, done when Bernini was young and kept, so there is no possibility that I will ever have it, is the subject of this comment on page 86:

In his later years the sculptor enjoyed quoting a quip bandied about Rome that "Truth was to be found only in Bernini's house."