Bust of Giovanni Battista Santoni
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The ''Bust of Giovanni Battisti Santoni'' is a sculptural portrait by the Italian artist
Gian Lorenzo Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, , ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 159828 November 1680) was an Italian sculptor and architect. While a major figure in the world of architecture, he was more prominently the leading sculptor of his ...
. Believed to be one of the artist's earliest works, the bust forms part of a tomb for Santoni, who was
majordomo A majordomo is a person who speaks, makes arrangements, or takes charge for another. Typically, this is the highest (''major'') person of a household (''domūs'' or ''domicile'') staff, a head servant who acts on behalf of the owner of a large ...
to
Pope Sixtus V Pope Sixtus V ( it, Sisto V; 13 December 1521 – 27 August 1590), born Felice Piergentile, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 April 1585 to his death in August 1590. As a youth, he joined the Franciscan order ...
from 1590 to 1592. The work was executed sometime between 1613 and 1616,Wittkower 1955, p. 231. although some have dated the work as early as 1609 (when Bernini was ten years old), including
Filippo Baldinucci Filippo Baldinucci (3 June 1625 – 10 January 1696) was an Italian art historian and biographer. Life Baldinucci is considered among the most significant Florentine biographers/historians of the artists and the arts of the Baroque period ...
.Avery 1997, p. 33.Hawley, p.107 The work remains in its original setting in the church of
Santa Prassede The Basilica of Saint Praxedes ( la, Basilica Sanctae Praxedis, it, Basilica di Santa Prassede all’Esquillino), commonly known in Italian as Santa Prassede, is an early medieval titular church and minor basilica located near the papal basilic ...
in
Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...
.


Background

In 1568, Santoni was consecrated Bishop of Alife. In 1586, he was appointed the Bishop of Tricarico. In 1590, immediately after ascending the papal throne,
Pope Sixtus V Pope Sixtus V ( it, Sisto V; 13 December 1521 – 27 August 1590), born Felice Piergentile, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 April 1585 to his death in August 1590. As a youth, he joined the Franciscan order ...
appointed Santoni his
majordomo A majordomo is a person who speaks, makes arrangements, or takes charge for another. Typically, this is the highest (''major'') person of a household (''domūs'' or ''domicile'') staff, a head servant who acts on behalf of the owner of a large ...
. Two years later, Santoni died. When Santoni's nephew was appointed to the bishopric in 1610, he commissioned the posthumous portrait of his uncle.


Description

The life-size marble bust is set in an oval frame with Mannerist mouldings behind and in between a broken pediment. The oval frame crowns an elaborate frame ornamented by three cherubim, also created by Bernini. These cherubim may have served as models for the artist's early mythological statues of putti.


Gallery

File:GBSantoni.jpg, Tomb of Giovanni Battista Santoni File:Monument van Giovanni Battista Santoni.jpg, Monument to Giovanni Battista Santoni


See also

*
List of works by Gian Lorenzo Bernini The following is a list of works of sculpture, architecture, and painting by the Italian Baroque artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini Gian Lorenzo (or Gianlorenzo) Bernini (, , ; Italian Giovanni Lorenzo; 7 December 159828 November 1680) was an Italian ...


References

;Notes ;Bibliography * * * * * *


External links


Web Gallery of Art
* 1610s sculptures Busts in Italy Marble sculptures in Italy Monuments and memorials in Rome Busts by Gian Lorenzo Bernini {{Italy-sculpture-stub