The Rape of Proserpina
2023 © Maxim Tabachnik
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The Rape of ProserpinaBernini

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In this stunning detail of Bernini’s marble group (1621–22), Pluto’s fingers sink into Proserpina’s thigh with unnerving realism, while her twisting form and anguished face heighten the emotional intensity. The composition’s tactile illusionism and psychological drama mark a defining triumph of early Baroque sculpture.