Study for a Triton (recto); Anatomical Studies ? (verso) 1642 - 1643

This is Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s red chalk drawing, *Study for a Triton*, currently held at the Metropolitan Museum. Bernini was the leading sculptor in 17th-century Rome, during the Baroque era. This drawing encapsulates the period’s fascination with classical antiquity, filtered through a Christian lens. Bernini studied not only ancient sculptures but also anatomy, evident in the detailed musculature of the triton. In ancient mythology, tritons were sea gods, often depicted as masculine figures, symbols of power and control over the marine world. Bernini transforms this figure, infusing it with a sense of dynamic energy. What’s fascinating is how Bernini navigates the boundaries of sensuality and religious piety. The emphasis on the triton's physicality celebrates the beauty of the human form, yet it also hints at the spiritual narratives of transformation. This approach allowed Bernini to create emotionally charged works that resonated with the period’s religious and cultural sensibilities.