Some art is so perfect, it can scarcely be believed that human hands created it.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini's "The Abduction of Proserpina", 1622. Sculpted by the young genius at only 23 years of age, it is considered by many to be his finest and most lifelike work.
It depicts Pluto, the god of the underworld, abducting the goddess Proserpina, the daughter of Jupiter. Pluto's tight grasp on Proserpina's thigh is captured with impossible realism.
Bernini is credited as founding the Baroque style of sculpture, incorporating movement and energy in a revolutionary way. In this piece, Pluto's forward march is obvious to the viewer, his weight carried on his forward foot.
The attention to detail in the expressions of each figure is astonishing. Proserpina's face reflects not only horror but also revulsion - her toes are even curled in disgust.
Meanwhile, Pluto's expression is a grin. His delicately detailed beard is just one of this sculpture's incredible feats.
At Pluto's feet stands Cerberus, the three-headed guardian of the underworld.
This 7.5-foot tall masterpiece, carved from Carrara marble, can be found in the Borghese Gallery in Rome. It lives there alongside several other of Bernini's iconic works, including "Apollo and Daphne" and "David".
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