This time, we would like to introduce two angel statues installed on the Ponte Sant'Angelo in front of Castel Sant'Angelo.

In this article, I will talk about such an angel statue by Bernini. In fact, the original of this work is housed in another church, which is also wonderful!

The quality of the angel statue I saw in the original was completely different. I could see that it had been polished, and above all, the dynamism of the garments conveyed was something else.

And strangely enough, for some reason, these two angel statues reminded me of the Wind God and Thunder God of Sanjusangendo in Kyoto. Perhaps the miraculous rippling of the angels' robes reminded me of my favorite wind god and thunder god.

In this article I will discuss Cathedra Petri, located in the apse of St. Peter's Basilica.

The Cathedra Petri is the most important part of this cathedral. It too was designed by Bernini. This article looks at the meaning behind this Bernini masterpiece.

St. Peter's Basilica is still a special place.

No matter how many times I come here, I am always impressed. And it was Bernini who created this wonderful space. The Cathedral is the highlight of a Bernini visit. I hope that many people will experience the theatrical space created by Bernini.

Bernini took pleasure in overcoming adverse conditions to create beautiful works of art, saying, "If you want to know what a person is capable of, you have to put him in a difficult situation."

The Scala Regia, adjacent to St. Peter's Basilica, is Bernini's architectural masterpiece that is well known to those who know it.

Under difficult and challenging conditions that would make an architect weep, he created a staircase that could be described as a miracle.

Although not open to the public, I was able to visit these stairs on a special occasion. I will discuss it in this article along with my experience at that time.

A huge square stretches in front of St. Peter's Basilica. This square is so famous that the Vatican is often referred to as this square, which was also designed by Bernini. Bernini not only designed the sculptures, but also had an outstanding sense of architecture.

Moreover, the current St. Peter's Square is actually unfinished. Bernini's original architectural plan was abandoned due to financial difficulties and other political circumstances in Rome. If this plan had been carried out, the Vatican would have been a much more attractive theater space. This article introduces the story behind the Vatican. I am sure you will be surprised if you read it.

ここはローマ観光におけるメインルートには設定されない教会だと思います。パンテオンやコロッセオや真実の口など、ローマにはそれこそ名所中の名所が山ほどあります。それら名所中の名所を回るだけで日程が終わってしまうのも無理はありません。ですがこのサンタンドレア・アル・クイリナーレ聖堂はものすごい場所です。マニアックと言えばマニアックかもしれませんがぜひここも訪れてみてほしいです。本当にここにパンテオンがあるのです。しかも困難な条件の下でそれを成し遂げてしまったという驚異の建築なのです。ローマ滞在の折にはぜひベルニーニの最高傑作を皆さんにも味わってほしいです。驚愕すること間違いなしのすばらしい聖堂です。

私はこの聖堂に一瞬で魅了され、ローマ滞在中４度ここを訪れ、その度に感嘆していました。

今回の記事ではベルニーニの芸術に大きな影響を与えたイエズス会の創始者イグナティウス・デ・ロヨラの『霊操』の瞑想と総本山ジェズ教会についてお話ししていきます。

あのザビエルが所属していた修道会がこのイエズス会です。そして私も学んでいて驚いたのですが、イエズス会ができたのはなんと１５３４年のことで、ローマ教皇パウルス五世に正式に認可されたのが１５４０年という割と最近の話だったのである。ザビエルはその創設メンバーの一人だった。イエズス会というと、植民地戦略や政治的な面をイメージしてしまいがちですが、実は瞑想や宗教的実践を強く重んじていた側面もありました。そしてベルニーニはまさにそうした宗教的実践を重んじ日々生活していて、それが作品に顕著に表れていたのでした。これは非常に重要なポイントであると私は思います。

教皇イノケンティウス十世が亡くなり、その後を継いだアレクサンデル七世というのがこれまたスケールの大きな人物でした。この人物の登場によりベルニーニは第二の黄金期を迎えることになります。

これから先の記事ではキジ礼拝堂やサンピエトロ広場、サンピエトロ大聖堂の『カテドラ・ペトリ』と『スカラ・レジア』、サン・タンドレア・アル・クイリナーレなどベルニーニの傑作を紹介していきます。