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Bernini’s Ratto di Proserpina

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I’m in Rome with my family to celebrate a milestone. We went to the Borghese Gallery this morning and I got to see my favorite sculpture, Bernini’s Ratto di Proserpina. A masterpiece. The photos both do and do not do it justice — so grateful to get to see it in person.

Comments  13

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Chris Koerner

That is amazing. I’m happy you had the chance to go.

Jeff Harper Edited

One of my favorite places to go in Rome. All of the sculptures are amazing! I especially like Apollo and Daphne.

I would add that you took some very nice photos, thanks for those!

Molly Elizabeth Gage

That makes me so happy to hear! I lived in Rome near Villa Borghese for years; I used to take students to the museum, but also my kids used to play in the park outside the museum and we could peek through the window and get a look at Proserpina. I hope you got some good time with Apollo and Daphne as well!

Matthew Smith

So happy you saw it!
The fingers-on-thigh you have a close-up of there blew my mind seeing it in person - never seen sculpture like it.

Was there with my family two weeks ago (from Montreal, up the road!), and lucky enough to know one of the tour guides and get a personal walk through - her tour around Apollo and Daphne, and how the metamorphoses evolves over time as you walk around it, opened my eyes to the amount of story-telling in his work - just crazy - wasn’t he 19 or something?!

Caroline G.

A beautiful sculpture of a pretty disturbing myth.

Adam Solove

Hah, I just happen to be visiting Rome at the same time and have this on the list for tomorrow. I hope you saw the petals at the Pantheon today!

Manqueman

Great photos of a breathtakingly beautiful piece.

William Gunter

These photos are great. What a stunning sculpture. My mother-in-law wept when she saw the Birth of Venus at the Uffizi in Florence. Never dreamed she'd be able to see it in person.

We really enjoyed the Diocletian baths and the amazing mosaics at the Palazzo Massimo alle Terme last time we were in Rome. Enjoy the rest of your trip!

Lorem Ipsum

Bernini was 22-23 years old when he worked on that sculpture! Amazing.

Christopher Jobson

10/10 marble carving, would return.

Joshua Gooden

It's not very impressive though - the statue was already in the marble when he started

Richard Heppner Jr.

Happy milestone!

Michael Sippey

that hand on thigh is just mind-blowing. so glad you're there.

This thread is closed for new comments & replies. Thanks to everyone for participating!