Bernini

Bernini, Giovanni Lorenzo, artist, was born in 1598 at Naples. After he bad produced at the age of 18 his celebrated sculptured group of Apollo and Daphne, he enjoyed the patronage of Cardinal Maffeo Barberini, who on becoming Pope Urban VIII. appointed Bernini as his architect. Among his best works in this capacity was the great colonnade of St. Peter's. In 1665 at the invitation of Louis XIV. he visited Paris to compete in designs for the Louvre. Perrault's were considered superior to his, and so he limited his attention to sculpture. In 1680 he died at Rome, leaving a fortune of upwards of °100,000.