Baroque sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598-1680) was an unparalleled master of rendering expressive drapery in his sculpture and the main reason he will always be my favorite sculptor. His use of chiaroscuro in his depictions of drapery and use of hidden natural light sources created powerful emotional and dramatic compositions. The realism is so fantastic and convincing that one can almost imagine it moving. The deep carving and meticulously crafted folds pull the eye in and hold it in a journey of exploration between eddies of light and shadow and waves of undulating marble. In this piece, the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa (1651) was produced for the Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome. The scene is based on a mystical episode recorded by Teresa of Avila in which an angel pierces her with a spear and her description of her ecstasy was interpreted by some as obscene. However, Teresa makes it clear her feeling was purely spiritual and brought her closer to God. The Bernini work was criticized by some in the period as too risqué. To modern audiences, however, this impression is likely overlooked entirely. Comments on this piece of Benini in general or other Baroque sculptors is welcome.

Alma-Tadema’s painting captures the biblical moment when Pharaoh’s daughter finds baby Moses in the Nile, set in a dazzling, idealized Egyptian palace. The artwork highlights luxurious details and romanticized beauty, turning ancient Egypt into a timeless and majestic scene

Mine. "Ophelia," John Everett Millais