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Bust of Camilla Barbadori

Bust of Camilla Barbadori is a marble sculpture by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, made in 1619 and preserved at the Statens Museum for Kunst in Copenhagen. It depicts Camilla Barbadori, the deceased mother of Maffeo Barberini, who died in 1609 and later became Pope Urban VIII in 1623. The work belongs to Bernini’s early years and was originally intended for the family chapel in the Basilica of Sant’Andrea della Valle in Rome, alongside a bust of Antonio Barberini, Maffeo’s father. The sculpture is especially admired for its chiaroscuro effect, with the smooth face contrasted against the shadowed folds of the mantle and the deeply carved eyes that appear alive from a distance.

Marble bust of Camilla Barbadori with a veiled head and shoulders on a marble pedestal.
Bust of Camilla Barbadori in white marble, shown with a draped veil and mounted on a variegated marble pedestal.
© · Public domain
Marble bust of Camilla Barbadori with a draped head covering and serious expression.
Bust of Camilla Barbadori in marble, shown with draped headwear and a dark pedestal.
June 2024 © · CC BY-SA 4.0
Bust of Camilla Barbadori in light-colored marble, showing a woman with a draped head covering and a dark pedestal.
Bust of Camilla Barbadori, a marble sculpture shown on its pedestal.
· CC BY-SA 3.0
Marble bust of Camilla Barbadori with a draped hooded veil and dark marble base.
Bust of Camilla Barbadori, shown as a light marble sculpture with a hooded veil and decorative base.
© · CC BY 3.0

Identification

TitleBust of Camilla Barbadori
TypeBust

Historical context

Depicted person's death year1609
Associated companion sculptureAnother bust of Antonio Barberini, father of Maffeo Barberini
Historical noteMaffeo Barberini later became Pope Urban VIII in 1623
Depicted person status at the timeAlready deceased when depicted
Date1619
PeriodBernini's early years

Creator

Artist nationalityItalian
ArtistGian Lorenzo Bernini

Discovery and provenance

Intended locationThe family chapel in the Basilica of Sant'Andrea della Valle, Rome

Location and ownership

Current locationStatens Museum for Kunst, Copenhagen

Physical characteristics

Depicted personCamilla Barbadori
Depicted person's relationMother of Maffeo Barberini

Materials

MaterialMarble

Technique

TechniqueBernini carved fairly deep grooves around the pupils

Appearance

Stylistic featureStrong chiaroscuro
Visual effectContrast between the woman's smooth, luminous face and the shadows created by the cloak around the neck
Eye treatmentThe eyes appear full of life when seen from a distance
Resulting effect of techniqueA deep shadow that the viewer can interpret in their own way