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Which ancient artworks influenced Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s early sculpture?
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Gian Lorenzo Bernini
Apollo and Daphne, marble sculpture by Lorenzo Bernini, 1622–25; in the Borghese Gallery, Rome.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s early sculpture was significantly shaped by his close study of antique Greek and Roman marbles housed in the Vatican.1
Beyond these ancient influences, his early development was informed by a deep knowledge of High Renaissance painting and the work of Michelangelo, whose influence is particularly evident in Bernini’s St. Sebastian (c. 1617). While he drew upon these classical and Renaissance foundations, Bernini eventually broke with the tradition of Michelangelo, developing a unique style characterized by unparalleled virtuosity in carving marble to achieve delicate, lifelike textures.1