Part 32 (1/2)
”If you have nothing to do, let's take a walk,” said the Englishman.
”If you like.”
”Have you noticed the fountains in this square?”
”No.”
”They are worth looking at.”
Caesar contemplated the central obelisk. It is set on top of a rock hollowed out like a cavern, in the mouth of which a lion is seen.
Afterwards they looked at the fountains at the ends of the square.
”The sculptures are by Bernini,” explained Kennedy. ”Bernini belonged to an epoch that has been very much abused by the critics, but nowadays he is much praised. He enchants me.”
”It is rather a mixed style, don't you think?”
”Yes.”
”The artist is not living?”
”For heaven's sake, man! No.”
”Well, if he were alive today they would employ him to make those gewgaws some people present to leading ladies and to the deputies of their district. He would be the king of the manufacturers of ornate barometers.”
”It is undeniable that Bernini had a baroque taste.”
”He gives the impression of a rather pretentious and affected person.”
”Yes, he does. He was an exuberant, luxuriant Neapolitan; but when he chose he could produce marvels. Haven't you seen his Saint Teresa?”
”No.”
”Then you must see it. Let's take a carriage.”
They drove to the Piazza San Bernardo, a little square containing three churches and a fountain, and went into Santa Maria della Vittoria.
Kennedy went straight toward the high altar, and stopped to the left of it.
In an altar of the transept is to be seen a group carved in marble, representing the ecstasy of Saint Teresa. Caesar gazed at it absorbed.
The saint is an attractive young girl, falling backward in a sensual spasm; her eyes are closed, her mouth open, and her jaw a bit dislocated. In front of the swooning saint is a little angel who smilingly threatens her with an arrow.
”Well, what do you think of it?” said Kennedy.
”It is wonderful,” exclaimed Caesar. ”But it is a bedroom scene, only the lover has slipped away.”
”Yes, that is true.”
”It really is pretty; you seem to see the pallor of the saint's face, the circles under her eyes, the relaxation of all her muscles. Then the angel is a little joker who stands there smiling at the ecstasy of the saint.”