Rijksmuseum Amsterdam Welcomes Sole Bernini Sculpture in the Netherlands
The Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam has announced a significant addition to its collection: a sculpture by the renowned Italian Baroque artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini. Acquired on permanent loan from a private collector, this terracotta study model represents a Triton and marks the first and only sculpture by Bernini to be permanently displayed in the Netherlands.
Dated to 1653, the 72-centimeter-tall piece served as a preliminary model for the Fontana del Moro (Fountain of the Moor) located in Rome's Piazza Navona. Visitors to the Rijksmuseum may recall seeing this particular artwork previously during the "Caravaggio–Bernini" exhibition in 2020. Its permanent presence offers a unique opportunity to explore a masterwork of Italian Baroque art within a Dutch context.
A Historic Artistic Acquisition for Dutch Art Enthusiasts
This acquisition is considered a landmark event for the Rijksmuseum and for Dutch art history. Taco Dibbits, the director, highlighted the sculpture's importance, noting Bernini's profound influence on the development of sculpture across Europe, including in the Netherlands. Many 17th-century Dutch sculptors, such as Artus Quellinus—who famously created marble works for Amsterdam’s City Hall—traveled to Rome to study Bernini's methods. The availability of a Bernini sculpture for public viewing is expected to deepen understanding of this artistic connection.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Enduring Legacy
Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) is widely recognized as the preeminent Italian Baroque sculptor. His celebrated creations include "Apollo and Daphne" at the Galleria Borghese and "The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" at Santa Maria della Vittoria, both in Rome. Beyond individual sculptures, Bernini also left an indelible mark on Roman architecture, designing St Peter’s Square, the monumental St Peter's Baldachin in the Vatican, and the Fontana dei quattro fiumi (Fountain of the Four Rivers) in Piazza Navona. The Triton model now at the Rijksmuseum is a direct link to his work in embellishing that very square.
Unveiling the Triton: A Glimpse into a Baroque Masterpiece
The terracotta sculpture depicts Triton, a mythological sea creature, positioned on a shell. It was originally created for the southern fountain in Piazza Navona, with Bernini's assistant, Giovanni Antonio Mari, executing the final marble version. This central figure became affectionately known as il Moro (The Moor) by the people of Rome due to its perceived facial features, giving the fountain its current name. The sculpture's dynamic pose—a rotating body, forward motion, and an imagined breeze rustling its hair—conveys a strong sense of movement and energy, reinforced by water spouting from a dolphin between its legs.
For centuries, this specific terracotta model remained largely unknown, passed down through a private Italian family, descendants of Cardinal Flavio Chigi, who had direct dealings with Bernini. Its quality was further obscured by a thick layer of dark paint. A comprehensive restoration in 2018 meticulously removed this overpainting, revealing Bernini's distinctive and virtuosic artistic style. While a second, more elaborate terracotta model of Triton exists at the Kimbell Art Museum in Fort Worth, Texas, the Rijksmuseum's acquisition is believed to be the "modello fatto da me" ("model made by myself") referenced in Bernini's 1655 invoice for the fountain, serving as his primary study model for the final marble work.
To explore more cultural experiences in the city, you can browse other museums in Amsterdam or discover more of what Musemap (musemap.art) has to offer by visiting the Amsterdam city homepage.
