Galleria Borghese

Cardinal Scipione Borghese was the nephew of Pope Paul V, an art curator, and the owner of Villa Borghese which is now an art museum. Among the many artworks that the Cardinal commissioned, one was his own sculpture. The portrait sculptures were created in marble by famed Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1632.These quarter-length busts portray Cardinal Scipione Borghese dressed as a cardinal of the Roman Church, complete with robes and a biretta. Although only one sculpture was commissioned, Bernini had to create another as there was a visible fracture in the first version. Today, both marble portrait sculptures can be viewed at Galleria Borghese.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini's life-size sculpture of David is a sight to behold. It was one of many artworks commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese to embellish his residence. The statue is still on display at the Galleria Borghese, attracting thousands of tourists from all over the world. The sculpture depicts the biblical David poised to throw the stone that will knock down Goliath, allowing David to behead him. From 1623 to 1624, the entire sculpture took seven months to create and is noted for its superb depiction of psychological tension and implied movement.

This 220 m towering marble statue is the result of multiple reworkings of an ancient archeological treasure, a Pentelic marble horse. Gian Lorenzo's father, Pietro Bernini, restored the monument in 1617. Bernini added the rider figure during the restoration to represent the Roman fable in which Marcus Curtius throws himself into the chasm. This sculpture was initially exhibited on the exterior of the Borghese Gallery. It was later relocated inside the Borghese gallery, where it may still be viewed today.

The Sleeping Hermaphroditus is a marble sculpture created by the renowned Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The life-size sculpture depicts the Greek God Hermaphroditus lying naked on a mattress. It is inspired by ancient depictions of Venus and other female nudes that were popular themes during the time. The Sleeping Hermaphroditus, discovered in Rome, was claimed by Cardinal Scipione Borghese and eventually became a part of his art collection. This artwork is one of the most admired pieces in the Galleria Borghese from the 17th century.

This marble sculpture is undoubtedly Gian Lorenzo Bernini's most famous and dramatic masterpiece. The Rape of Proserpina, like most of his works, was commissioned by Cardinal Scipione Borghese. Bernini finished this sculpture when he was only 23 years old, between 1621 and 1622. The Rape of Prosperina (rape here refers to kidnapping rather than sexual violence) is a great example of Bernini's anatomical skill and ability to give marble the illusion of human skin. You can still find the sculpture standing powerfully in the Room of Emperors at the Borghese Gallery.

The Hunt of Diana, also known as the Archery Contest of Diana and Her Nymphs, was painted by Italian artist Domenichino in 1616 for Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini. This picture represents a mythological scene in which Goddess Diana, wearing a crescent moon tiara, plays archery with a group of nymphs. The reason why you can find it in the private art collection of Cardinal Scipione Borghese is that he had stolen the painting from its original owner. It is still housed in Borghese's residence and is one of several Baroque masterpieces on display there.

This is yet another masterpiece that was seized by Cardinal Scipione Borghese from its original owner Giuseppe Cesari. The Young Sick Bacchus is a classic painting made by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio during his early years in Rome. It is, in fact, a self-portrait of Caravaggio munching a bunch of grapes. The artist is thought to have painted this portrait using a mirror. If you're wondering why the painting title includes the word 'sick,' it's because Caravaggio was sick at the time, presumably from malaria. This is seen in his yellowish skin tone and icterus in his eyes.

Dating back to 1558, Melissa is a beautiful painting created by the renowned artist Dosso Dossi. Although the subject of this artwork is Melissa, the sorceress Circe of Homer, it is the dog sitting beside her that catches the viewer’s attention. In this painting, Dossi has rendered the dog’s face with human traits such as nose and lips. Melissa’s gaze also draws the viewer’s attention to the tree where some human-like shapes are hanging. It is believed that these figures were a small group of warriors who were turned into puppets by the mistress of enchantments, Alcina.

The mythological figure of David has always been a favourite subject among sculptors and painters. This painting by Caravaggio is inspired by the story of David and Goliath. However, it is believed that this artwork is actually a double self-portrait wherein the young Caravaggio (David) is holding the head of the adult Caravaggio (Goliath). Hence, more than being just a depiction of a fable, this painting also highlights the mental stance of Caravaggio when he created this art piece. You can view this painting in the Sinelus Room at the Borghese Gallery.