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.

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.

He was very attracted to musical people and befriended the Austrian composer Arnold Schoenberg, spending summer vacations with his family.  He became very close to Schoenberg’s wife, Mathilde, and soon had begun an affair with her.  In 1908 she left her husband and children to spend time with Gersti in Vienna.  Schoenberg convinced his wife to rejoin him, leaving Gersti in shambles.  He was heartbroken and once again alone and distraught. 

On November 4, 1908, he spent the evening burning all sorts of documents and correspondence that proved his existence.  He then proceeded to hang himself in front of a mirror and disemboweled himself to assure his death.  Gersti’s death made such an impression on Schoenberg that he composed a work called Expectation regarding these events.

The work that survived the fire was stored after his death but in 1930 his brother showed his work to an art dealer who presented his work in an art show, something that had never happened in his lifetime.  His work once again went into hiding during Austria’s Nazi invasion and didn’t resurface until after war.   Sixty-six paintings and 8 drawings survived.  

To see more of Richard Gersti’s work click here.

Czech artist David Cerny found himself amid a sea of controversy due to his tribute to British artist Damien Hirst.  In his 2005 work titled Shark he suspended a sculpted mold of Saddam Hussein in formaldehyde.  In 2006 this work was banned in Belgium and Poland.

Maybe Jesus WAS a chocolate brother?

Italian artist Cosimo Cavallaro’s piece titled Sweet Lord was recently at the center of a controversy in New York during Easter week.  The artist created an anatomically correct 6-foot image of Christ made out of dark chocolate and exhibited at the Lab Gallery  Gallery, inciting the outrage of many religious groups.  

The artist, who was raised Catholic, says that the timing of the show was coincidental.  Easter week happened to be when the gallery had an opening.  Two days after the show opened, the gallery’s creative director, Matt Semler resigned amid the controversy.  The gallery was barraged by a slew of calls and e-mails from people who were angered by the piece. 

To see more of Cosimo Cavallaro’s work click here.