Bust of Cardinal Roberto Bellarmine
The Bust of Cardinal Roberto Bellarmine is a half-length portrait of Saint Robert Bellarmine by the Italian artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini. It was executed between 1621 and 1624 and unveiled in August 1624. The bust is located in the Chiesa del Gesù in Rome. It was commissioned by Pope Gregory XV and Cardinal Odoardo Farnese after Bellarmine’s death. The now-destroyed tomb surrounding the bust was designed by Girolamo Rainaldi and included sculptural decoration by Bernini’s father, Pietro, and his occasional assistant, Giuliano Finelli.
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Identification | |
| Title | Bust of Cardinal Roberto Bellarmine |
| Subject | Saint Robert Bellarmine |
| Type | Half-length portrait bust |
Historical context | |
| Period | 17th century |
| Date of creation | 1621–1624 |
| Unveiling date | August 1624 |
Creator | |
| Artist | Gian Lorenzo Bernini |
| Artist nationality | Italian |
Discovery and provenance | |
| Commissioned by | Pope Gregory XV and Cardinal Odoardo Farnese |
| Commission context | Commissioned after Bellarmine's death |
Location and ownership | |
| Exhibited at | Fairfield University Art Museum, Fairfield, Connecticut |
| Exhibition context | Displayed in a special exhibition |
| Exhibition dates | February 2 to May 19, 2018 |
| Current location | Chiesa del Gesù, Rome |
| Tomb decoration | Elaborate sculptural decoration by Pietro Bernini and Giuliano Finelli |
| Tomb designer | Girolamo Rainaldi |
| Associated tomb | A tomb surrounding the bust, now destroyed |
Significance | |
| Work category | Bernini busts |
| Work category | 17th-century sculptures |
| Work category | 1620s works |