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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If architecture is frozen music, then Siena is a symphony.
Inside and out, Siena Cathedral is an exquisite work of art - every inch is decorated with colored marble, mosaics, sculptures, and frescoes. Built over 175 years, it is one the finest architectural landmarks in all of Italy.
The architecture is a harmonious blend of styles, reflecting its long and complex history. It combines masterful elements of Romanesque, Gothic, Classical, and Baroque styles.
St. Patrick's Cathedral, a Gothic sanctuary in the heart of New York City and the largest Catholic cathedral in the US - it is a symbol of the triumph of religious freedom in America.
Designed by James Renwick Jr. and clad in white marble to create a striking contrast with the city. It was completed in 1878 and occupies an entire city block. At the time it was the largest church in the US.
There is no rope in this image. This is carved from a single block of marble.
Is there a person alive today who could do this?
This is "The Release from Deception" by Italian sculptor Francesco Queirolo, completed in 1759 after 7 years of work. It depicts a fisherman being released from netting by an angel, allegorical to the man being liberated from his sins.
So intricate was the work that 18th-century philosopher Giangiuseppe Origlia described it as “the last and most trying test to which sculpture in marble can aspire.”
The Temple of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Barcelona. Designed by Enric Sagnier, one of the most prolific architects in Spain, and completed in 1961 after almost 60 years.
It was built on the summit Mount Tibidabo to prevent a Protestant church and hotel-casino being erected on the highest point of the city.