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Saturday, July 14, 2012

L'Apollo (del gruppo, "Apollo e Dafni" di Bernini)

Speranza

The Apollo is a bare-faced borrowing from what was considered THE classical statue: the Apollo pizio, saurottono, "del Bel-Vedere" (or more strictly, "del cortile della VILLA Bel-Vedere").

--- The Apollo del Belvedere was a RESTORED marble copy (not too restored -- they never cared to bring in the arrow and the bow -- 'my bow, my arrow' -- as Blake cried) of what must have been an IMPORTANT Greek BRONZE of the fourth century B. C.

---

Bernini takes over Apollo's STANCE, GESTURE, and FEATURES, with small changes, which, however, transform their meaning.

The frontal, stepping figure is now seen from the side AND RUNNING.

And with minimal modifications the antique positions of arms and legs have been adapted to their new functionn.

The drapery, instead of cutting the statue at the shoulder, now hangs over him, whips around teh hips and out into the air, heightening the impression of swift flight initiated by the running legs and sustained by the steadying gesture of the right arm.

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