Descendants of 17th-century cardinal Flavio Chigi discovered a terracotta model of the sea god Triton, originally misidentified as a mere statue. After restoration, the sculpture was uncovered as a notable work by Bernini, a key figure in Baroque art. Highlighting its significance, Frits Scholten emphasized its connection to Bernini’s creative process. The piece is linked to his design for a marble statue for Rome's Fontana del Moro. Rijksmuseum director Taco Dibbits praised its display, marking it as the first Bernini piece in the Netherlands, showcasing the artist's longstanding influence on sculpture.
It's a sculpture that was in an Italian family for a long time, but covered with [paint], presumably because it had been broken. So for that reason, they painted it as if it were a patinated bronze sculpture, the figure dark brown, and the shell on which it stands gild.
It is marvellous that, thanks to a private individual, we can now place a sculpture by Bernini on permanent display in the Netherlands for the first time. Bernini had a huge influence on the development of sculpture as an art form.
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