BERNINI, Giovanni Lorenzo, ber-nenc, jii-van'ne 16-renszo, called IL CAVALIERE BER ram, Italian sculptor and architect: b. Naples, 7 Dec. 1598; d. Rome, 28 Nov. 1680. His father was a sculptor, and even in childhood he showed remarlcable aptitude in this art. Thus richly endowed by nature and favored by circum stances, he rose superior to the rules of art, creating for himself an easy manner, the faults of which he knew how to disguise by its bril liancy. One of his first worlcs was the marble bust of the prelate Montajo; and in this type of art he excelled from first to last. He was not yet 18 when he produced the 'Apollo and Daphne,' in marble, a masterpiece of grace and execution. Looking at this group near the close of his life, he declared that he had made very little progress since the time when that was produced. Without forsaking sculpture, Bernini's genius embraced architecture, and he furnished the design for the canopy and the pulpit of Saint Peter's, as well as for the cir cular place before the church. Among his numerous works were the palace Barberini, the belfry of Saint Peter's, the model of the monu ment of the Countess Matilda and the monu ment of Urban VIII, his benefactor. Urban had scarcely closed his eyes and Innocent X ascended the papal throne, when the envy en gendered by the merits of the artist and the favor bestowed on him broke forth. His ene mies triumphed, but he regained the favor of the Pope by a model for a fountain. About the same time he erected the palace of Munte Citorio, Alexander VII, the successor of Inno cent X, required of him a plan for the embelt lishment of the Piazza di San Pietro. The
admirable colonnade, so beautifully proportioned to the Basilica, was built under the direction of Bernini. We may also mention the palace Odescalchi, the Rotunda della Riccia and the house for novices belonging to the Jesuits, on Monte Cavallo. Louis XIV having invited him to Paris, he set out from Rome in 1665, accom panied by one of his sons and a numerous retinue. Never did an artist travel with so great pomp and under such flattering circumstances. The reception which he met with in Paris was highly honorable. He was first occupied in pre paring plans for the restoration of the Louvre. which, however, were never executed. Cardinal Rospigliosi having become Pope, Bernini was admitted to an intimate intercourse with him and charged with several works, among others with the decoration of the bridge of Saint An gelo. In his 70th year this indefatigable artist executed one of his most beautiful works, the tomb of Alexander VII. He was buried with great magnificence in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore. To his children he left a fortune amounting to about 3,300,000 francs. Bernini's favorite maxim was Chi non esce talvolta della regola, nonpassa mai. Thus he was of opinion that, in order to excel in the arts, one must rise above all rules and create a manner peculiar to one's self.