Clever italian arthistory crime series featuring scholar and dealer jonathon argyll, from the author of the bestselling. Iain pears at the 2015 edinburgh international book festival. Gian lorenzo bernini was just twentythree years old when he received one of his first commissions to make a fullsized bust of pope paul v, the recently deceased uncle of his most important patron, cardinal scipione borghese. Like the two busts of cardinal scipione borghese, it is believed.
The mystery is a bit too pat and easy to solve, and the novel has none of the magic and power of. He is the author of seven highly praised detective novels, a book of art history, and countless articles on artistic, financial. Reliable information about the coronavirus covid19 is available from the world health organization current situation, international travel. The busts of pope innocent x are two portrait busts by the italian artist gianlorenzo bernini of pope innocent x, giovanni battista pamphili. It was created in the year 1665 during berninis visit to paris. Berninis bust of costanza is a work with few precedents. And his artistic vision remains palpably present today, through the countless. Bibiana was removed from its church so that it could be restored directly at the museum. It wasnt very long and didnt have nearly enough about bernini himself, but the mystery is solid, the prose is witty and moves you briskly along, and the main characters argyll and flavia are both good protagonists. The bernini bust has 8 available editions to buy at half price books marketplace. Having read one of ian pearss big books the dream of scipio i decided to have a go at a jonathan argyle detective story, and im very glad i did. Perhaps the most precocious sculptor in the history of art, gian lorenzo bernini conceived this bust when he was only about seventeen years old.
Gian lorenzo bernini berninis luck was to change in 1647 when cardinal federico cornaro commissioned a work dedicated to st. His precocity earned him the admiration and favor of powerful patrons who hailed him as the michelangelo of his century. His sculptural and architectural projects reveal an innovative interpretation of subjects, use of forms, and combination of media. Bernini s bust of costanza is a work with few precedents. In hiseligious sculptures he excelled at capturing movement and extreme emotion,niting figures with their setting to create a single conception ofverwhelming intensity that expressed the fervour of counterreformation rome. Iain pears books list of books by author iain pears. He is the author of many books, including the bestsellin. Bernini created the baroque style of sculpture and developed it to such an extent that other artists are of only minor importance in a discussion of that style. And his artistic vision remains palpably present today, through the countless statues, fountains, and buildings. Read online the bernini bust pdf book by on juggernaut books. In the bernini bust by iain pears book 3 of the series, jonathan argyll is l. However, formatting rules can vary widely between applications and fields of interest or study.
In his religious sculptures he excelled at capturing movement and extreme emotion, uniting figures with their setting to create a single conception of overwhelming intensity that expressed the fervour of counterreformation rome. Peters square santandrea al quirinale, rome francesco borromini, san carlo alle quattro fontane, rome. Sculptor, architect, painter, playwright, and scenographer, gian lorenzo bernini 15981680 was the last of the great universal artistic geniuses of early modern italy, placed by both contemporaries and posterity in the same exalted company as leonardo, raphael, and michelangelo. Rome, march 26italy is seeking to recover a marble bust of pope urban viii, attributed to the celebrated baroque architect and sculptor giovanni lorenzo bernini, now on display at the national. Gian lorenzo bernini dominated the roman art world of the seventeenth century, flourishing under the patronage of its cardinals and popes while also challenging contemporary artistic traditions. He was recognized as a prodigy when he was only eight years old, and he was consistently encouraged by his father, pietro. The bernini bust iain pears ebook harpercollins nz. Bernini and the birth of baroque portrait sculpture is a groundbreaking study that features drawings and paintings by bernini and his contemporaries. No satisfactory image of bernini s famous bust of charles i which perished in the whitehall palace fire of 1698 has hitherto come to light in modern times. And while awaiting the arrival of his friends from the italian national art theft squad, jonathan finds himself targeted by the.
Gian lorenzo bernini was the greatest sculptor of the baroque period, and yetsurprisinglythere has never before been a major exhibition of his sculpture in north america. The mystery is a bit too pat and easy to solve, and the novel has none of the magic and power of pears an instance of the fingerpost. Educated at wadham college, oxford, he has worked as a journalist, an art historian, and a television consultant in england. Charles i, king of england was created in 1636 by gian lorenzo bernini in baroque style.
I neglected to mention that according to the memoirs of charles perrault who had arranged for the delivery of the marble for the bust, it was bernini who as soon as he arrived. World of bernini 15981680, the timelife library of art by r wallace and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. This book is a thorough discussion of the sculptural works of gianlorenzo bernini by probably the preeminent scholar of baroque art. Free download or read online the bernini bust pdf epub jonathan argyll series book. Oclcs webjunction has pulled together information and resources to assist library staff as they consider how to handle.
Theresa of avila for his chapel in santa maria della vittoria. Educated at wadham college, oxford, he has worked as a journalist, an art historian, and a television consultant in england, france, italy, and the united states. Gian lorenzo bernini was the definition of childhood genius. The bernini bust book by iain pears half price books. Pdf the bernini bust book jonathan argyll free download. A bust of pope pius v is smuggled out of italy by a california museum owner and subsequently he is murdered. Bernini s childhood was spent in naples and he began sculpting from an early age working closely with his father, a successful mannerist sculptor who carried out prestigious commissions in naples and later rome. The bernini bust by pears, iain and a great selection of related books, art and collectibles available now at. No satisfactory image of berninis famous bust of charles i which perished in the whitehall palace fire of 1698 has hitherto come to light in modern times. Iain george pears born 8 august 1955 is an english art historian, novelist and journalist. Discover the best 98619010 bernini, gian lorenzo in best sellers. Bernini carves a bust for english king charles i from a painting by van dyke.
For one thing, women were not usually sculpted in marble unless they were nobility or the statues were for their tombs. Paul getty museum announced in june the purchase of a 17th century bust by gian lorenzo bernini, it was heralded as a major acquisition the first sculpture attributed solely to the. This barcode number lets you verify that youre getting exactly the right version or edition of a book. Together they demonstrate not only the range, skill, and acuity of these masters of baroque portraiture but also the interrelationship of the arts in seventeenthcentury rome. See all books authored by iain pears, including an instance of the fingerpost, and the raphael affair, and more on. The bust of louis xiv is a marble portrait by the italian artist gian lorenzo bernini. Both versions of this portrait are in the galleria borghese, rome. The main characters of this mystery, fiction story are. The book was published in multiple languages including english, consists of 272 pages and is available in paperback format. The bernini bust is a wellwritten art fraud caper, filled with likeable though at times cliched characters and a plot that clips along at a breezy pace. Built to support the obelisk a roman imitation of the egyptian obelisks, the immense sculpture combines rocks, plants and trees interspersed on each corner by figurative representations of the major rivers in the four discovered continents at. It is filled with superb photographs, mostly blackandwhite. Find more prominent pieces of sculpture at best visual art database.
It was commissioned by pope urban viii as a gift to the queen henrietta maria in hopes that charles would reconnect with the catholic church. Numerous and frequentlyupdated resource results are available from this search. The numbering follows rudolph wittkowers catalogue, first published in 1955 in gian lorenzo bernini. At the back of the church, bernini was also responsible for the decoration around the chair of st peter, another elaborate work in bronze, and to the rear left is the celebrated monument to alexander vii which depicts not only the pope but a bronze skeleton with an hourglass, reminding the viewer of the fleeting nature of time. Paul getty museum announced in june the purchase of a 17th century bust by gian lorenzo bernini, it was heralded as a major acquisition the. A rediscovered bernini joins the museums collection the. Regarding berninis bust of king louis xiv domenico, 2. Bernini was a deeply religious catholic and created his.
Borrow ebooks, audiobooks, and videos from thousands of public libraries worldwide. Cardinal scipione borghese was the nephew of pope paul v, and had commissioned other works from bernini in the 1620s. Bernini and the birth of baroque portrait sculpture showcases portrait sculptures from all phases of the artists long career, from the very early antonio coppola of 1612 to clement x. Though created months after paul vs death, bernini created a remarkably vivid likeness of the pope, whom he had met and who was described as a tall man with a handsome presence, pleasant and. This is a scholarly work as well as being very visually appealing. The last portrait bust by gian lorenzo bernini author isbn. Bernini bust at getty museum prompts criminal complaint in. And while he awaits his friends, argyll himself may be the next victim. Gian lorenzo bernini 15981680 was the most influential sculptor of his age. Jan 01, 2008 bernini and the birth of baroque portrait sculpture is a groundbreaking study that features drawings and paintings by bernini and his contemporaries. Borghese gallery gathers a full house of bernini masterpieces. Other works in st peters include the tomb of urban. The first edition of the novel was published in january 1st 1992, and was written by iain pears. Inventive and skilled, he virtually created the baroque style.
Berninis fountain of the four rivers is one of his most famous works and it is found in pride of place in the centre of piazza navona. The most widely accepted has been a mar ble bust, now at windsor fig. Berninis beloved sets the bust and costanzas own lifeher childhood and noble name, her marriage, affair, fall from grace, and recoveryagainst the backdrop of baroque rome. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. Jonathan argyll, pearss the titian committee endearingly incompetent british art historian and art dealer in rome, falls into a large sale of a lesser. The following is a list of works of sculpture, architecture, and painting by the italian baroque artist gian lorenzo bernini.
Then the museums owner is murdered and a bernini bust disappears. Theresa, is recognized by many as perhaps the supreme achievement of seventeenth century sculpture. Beautifully illustrated and written, this fascinating story expands our understanding of the woman whose intelligence and passion served as inspiration for berninis. Giovanni lorenzo bernini was born in 1598, the sixth of thirteen children of angelica galante and pietro bernini. Gian lorenzo bernini, italian artist who was perhaps the greatest sculptor of the 17th century and an outstanding architect as well. Inspire a love of reading with prime book box for kids discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new books every 1. Buy the bernini bust by iain pears online at alibris. Two busts of cardinal scipione borghese are marble portrait sculptures executed by the italian artist gian lorenzo bernini in 1632. Jun 17, 2015 the sculpture was the first official portrait bust of a pope by the young bernini, already an exceptionally talented portraitist at the age of 23. The sculpture had previously been moved during the bombing of rome in world war ii.