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Bernini Shanks his Skank
Posted in Art on May 14, 2009 by mserni
Gian Lorenzo Bernini was the leading sculptor of the Baroque era. His spiraling serpentine virtuosity adorns St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican and his work has been the subject of extensive research and debate. His delicate busts include the likenesses of important cardinals and popes, but one in particular stands out for its raw sensuality; the bust of his lover, Costanza,the wife of Bernini’s assistant Matteo.
Bernini used Costanza as a model on two occasions and it was said that his work was inflamed with his passion for her. Both Bernini and Costanza were married to other people but this did not stop their affair. The end came about in a more violent manner when he found out that she was cheating on him with his own brother!
Bernini spied on the couple outside of Costanza’s house and followed his brother to St. Peter’s Basilica where he began beating him with an iron rod and broke two of his ribs. Not satisfied with the beating, he returned to Costanza’s home he hired a servant to slash her face for the generous sum of two flasks of Greek wine. Bernini was ordered to pay 3000 scudi for his offense, but lucky for him Pope Urban the VIII was able to get the fee absolved.
To see more of Bernini’s work click here.
If you don’t marry me I’ll die! No, really.
Posted in Art, Suicide on May 14, 2009 by mserni
French painter Pierre-Paul Prud’hon (1758-1823) was a very successful Romantic painter known for his allegorical work and for being a favorite in the court of Napoleon. Although he was (unhappily) married, in 1803 he began living with a student of his named Constance Mayer (1775-1821). Constance, an artist in her own right, usually executed Prud’hon’s paintings after he did the drawings.
In 1821 their relationship ended when he told her that he had no plans to marry her, even though his wife had died. This was a tragic blow for Constance, who by this time had been with Prud’hon for 18 years! In the spirit of true artistic drama, Constance ended her life by slitting her own throat with Prud’hon’s razor in his own studio. When Prud’hon died two years later her was buried next to her.
To learn more about Constance Mayer click here.
To learn more about Pierre-Paul Prud’hon click here.
