The Bourghese Galleria isn’t just Rome’s best art gallery; it is classified as one of the best collections of Renaissance and Baroque art in the world. Visitors are permitted a two-hour time slot; with the exception of phones and/or cameras for ‘non-flash’ photos; it is mandatory that everything else you may be carrying - purses, even small purses, backpacks, waist packs, etc. - be checked before entering. Security, with vigilant guards in attendance, is extremely tight in each of the rooms.
Have you ever listened to music or viewed artwork that reached out to you, touched your heart, left you in awe and rendered you changed, never to be the same again? Bernini’s “Apollo and Daphne” (No, not because of the name) spoke directly to my heart. Rick Steves, the travel writer describes the sculpture best:
In the mythological story, Apollo - made stupid by Cupid’s arrow of love - chases after Daphne who has been turned off by the “arrow of disgust”. Just as he’s about to capture her, she calls to her father to save her. Magically, her fingers begin to sprout leaves,
her toes become roots,
her skin turns to bark, and she transforms into a tree. Frustrated Apollo will end up with a handful of leaves.
At 24 years of age 😲, Bernini, using ‘ancient’ drills, chisels and rasps created a masterpiece that would speak to my heart almost 400 years later. I stood in awe of the movement and action of the moment he captured. How at such a young age and in marble, did he accomplish this?
The security guard, observing Jim and I on the verge of tears, came forward to whisper to us that the specialized cleaning crews marvel that so thin are the leaves that they make the sound of good crystal when being cleaned. Now my mind was totally blown!
I truly need to view this sculpture again, need being the most appropriate word.
Italians have a phrase which I love. Non dimenticare! Don’t forget! I desperately need not to forget that in this dangerous time of horrific war in the Ukraine, China rattling its sabres over Taiwan, the precarious state of democracies around the world (especially just south of our border), increasing online hatred, and never-ending turmoil and famine in third world countries, that humans over time have not just waged war, but also created magnificence. I need to not forget that there is more than man’s ugliness and hate, that man is capable of creating great beauty which touches the hearts of mankind. I need to not forget that in the face repulsive actions there can be stunning beauty. I need to not forget that there is hope.
Non dimenticare!
