It is well known that the Borghese Gallery of Rome is really full of treasures like the famous sculptural groups made by Bernini, undisputed master of Baroque that right here, in the house of that Scipione Borghese who discovered him, began to prove all his value. Among his magnificent works stands out the sculptural group depicting the Escape of Aeneas, famous Trojan hero whose cult and figure were central to the Romans because they believed that it was precisely thanks to him, and to his escape from the famous city of Troy, that Rome was founded. When I am here with my tourists I always feel excited to be very close to a masterpiece like this one. 

This sculptural group, as well as the other protagonists that are permanently exhibited at the Borghese Gallery (to see the proof click here), was realized from the 1620 to the 1625, when Bernini sculpted all his amazing marble masterpieces when he didn't have thirty years yet. In a precise verticality we have three figures that are expressed with several and beautiful details: the brave Trojan hero Aeneas, his father Anchise and his son Iulo, who his hiding behind the left leg of his famous father. Each single figure has a specific connotation that makes it uniques but, at the same time, a piece of the unity of the sculpted group. For example Aeneas who, whit his right leg, is showing us how he is escaping from his home, destroyed by the fire that was burning the whole city of Troy.

According to the mythological episode he took his beloved during the escape, and even if it was an hard time we can see the calmness on his face and expression, an idealized and wonderful face where we can just read the concentration to save his father and child. The power of his muscles are suggesting us dynamism and movement, but also strenght. And now it's time to see Anchise, the old Aeneas' father who was not able to run fast due to his age. So, according to the myth, his strong child simply took it on his shoulders! In this case Bernini is not only focused on the myth, depicting it in each single detail, because looking at Anchise we can understand how important was the realism and naturalism for the master of the Baroque age. Obersve the wrinkles on the Anchise's skin, mainly on the knees. in order to understand how for the old man was simply impossible to escape from a burning city.

Just an hero like Aeneas was able to do it, as we can read on the Eneide by Virgil, the ancient liteary source that described the entire episode. And reading it we can read something about Iulo, the little Aeneas' child who, as I told you before, is hiding behind the father trying to follow him. And Iulo was very important according to the ancient Romans, because they believed that when his father came to the coasts of Lazio (the region where Rome is located) Iulo found his city: Alba Longa. And after thirty generations this city saw the birth of two very important figures of the history of the Eternal City: Romulus and Remus...