The Martyrdom of St. Lawrence by Bernini

On the occasion of Saint Lawrence Day, Paola D’Agostino, Director of Bargello Museum in Florence, presents a masterpiece by a young Gian Lorenzo Bernini, “The Martyrdom of Saint Lawrence”.

Sculpted in Rome, probably between 1615 and 1617, under no commission, such a masterpiece was rather an exercise of the young master practicing his skills. The power of the sculpture by young Bernini catches the expression of his characters as if they were painted.

The work had a great success and was bought by Leone Strozzi, who saw it in the workshop of Gian Lorenzo and wished to include it in his personal art collection.

Why is this artwork at the Uffizi? Because it is part of the Contini Bonacossi Collection, thus named after Count Alessandro donated his large collection of around 100 artworks to the Uffizi on his death.