Ratto di Proserpina, Bernini, Galleria Borghese, Roma

All works will be signed on verso with an accompanying certificate stating title, edition number, date and signature.

Aurelio Amendola’s photograph of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s “The Rape of Proserpina” offers a unique perspective, focusing on the gripping hand of Pluto and the struggle of Proserpina without showing their faces. Sculpted by Bernini between 1621 and 1622, “The Rape of Proserpina” depicts a dramatic scene from Roman mythology, where Hades (Pluto) abducts Proserpina (Persephone) to make her his queen. In this detail-oriented shot, the viewer’s attention is drawn to Pluto’s powerful hand firmly gripping Proserpina’s thigh, showcasing the tension and struggle of the abduction. Veins bulge on Pluto’s bicep, depicting the effort and strength exerted in the sculpture. The realistic portrayal of the marble as flesh is so convincing that viewers might mistake it for living and breathing forms, highlighting Bernini’s exceptional skill in sculpting lifelike figures.