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” captures the sculpture from a different angle, focusing on the gripping arms of Pluto and the struggle of Proserpina. Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s sculpture “The Rape of Proserpina” was created between 1621 and 1622. It depicts the intense moment from Roman mythology where Hades (Pluto), the god of the underworld, abducts Proserpina (Persephone) to make her his queen.

In this angle, Pluto’s face is not visible, but his powerful arms gripping Proserpina’s side and thigh are prominently displayed. The sculpture skillfully portrays the tension and struggle of the abduction, with the impressions of Pluto’s hands visible on Proserpina’s skin. Veins are subtly depicted on Pluto’s arm, adding to the realistic portrayal of the stone as flesh. The photograph highlights Bernini’s remarkable ability to sculpt marble into lifelike forms, capturing the dynamic movement and emotional intensity of the scene.