Bernini: My Almost Boyfriend
(except he’s dead)
I remember gasping in awe at my first sight of “The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa.” I have not been fortunate enough to see it in person, but the imagery I saw in Simon Schama’s film was breathtaking. From this work of intricate detail and exquisite emotion I fell for the sculptor. I was living in the 1600s, and I was painting his portrait because I loved him so. When Bernini was only eight years old he received his first tip, and was called “the next Michelangelo.” The man was debonair, suave, intelligent, well-to-do, gorgeous, and charismatic. He was, put simply, “Mr. Charming.”
Bernini had it all, including an enemy. This came as no shock to me, because I was placing Bernini on a pedestal of heroism. Every hero in the story has a nemesis, and this nemesis fit the bill. He was grumpy, anti-social, very jealous, and his name was Borromini. On some level, I liked him immediately- even though I was being swept away by Bernini. Borromini was a very talented architect, and became horribly upset when Bernini was selected to come up with the designs for St. Peter’s Basilica in 1624. Borromini was better suited for the job, but they chose the popular one.
At this turn of events I started to develop a funny taste in my mouth toward Bernini, and it turned quickly sour when he sprinkled salt in Borromini’s wound by asking for his help. Ha! I would not be very happy if my talents were tossed aside for somebody more popular, only to be asked for help without credit afterward. My fantasy was quickly fading, and it does not get better.
In 1637 Bernini was at the height of his affair with Costanza, the wife of his assistant. He sculpted a bust, and it is said to be carved with a passion like that which he felt for her. Mr. Perfect isn’t so perfect, after all. He began to hear rumor that Costanza and his younger brother Luigi were having an affair, and he became very angry. Not many people knew about his horrible temper, but it becomes very obvious that he has one. When he sees his brother leave Costanza’s house one evening, he violently chases his brother to St. Peter’s Basilica where he nearly kills him. He also hired somebody to slash the beautiful face of Costanza.
It was when I realized these things that I determined Bernini was not my perfect boyfriend anymore, but that I still had a lot to learn from him. As an artist he was so full of passion and life! He was so full that it must have found a way to ooze out of him into his work. His art was breathed to life by something inside of him, not only his tremendous skill. He put sweat, personality, and blood into his masterpieces. He seemed arrogant at times, but the twinkling part of me that was so fixated by him at the beginning of the film still likes to think of it as determination. He knew what he wanted, and he would do anything to get it. He was determined to be the best, and to be the best he had to act like it.
Even when times seemed terrible, even when he was publicly humiliated and no longer being commissioned by the church, he never stopped creating. He never gave up on his dreams. He never stopped doing what he loved. Even though he did some crazy things, I would like to learn that from him. As well as Borromini lived his life, though not as successful as Bernini, he gave up by committing suicide. At least Bernini kept fighting to create and share intense emotions with the world.
