Saint Longinus c. 1630 - 1631

Editor: This is Gian Lorenzo Bernini's Saint Longinus. The sculpture is rendered in terracotta with gilding, and it feels incredibly dynamic! What can you tell me about it? Curator: Longinus, the Roman soldier who pierced Christ, is fascinating when viewed through a postcolonial lens. How does Bernini's depiction of this conversion narrative grapple with the power dynamics inherent in the Roman Empire's relationship with early Christianity? Editor: That's not something I had considered, but the narrative certainly shifts when framed that way! Curator: Exactly! Bernini's Longinus is not just a religious figure; he embodies the tensions between oppressor and the oppressed, between belief and authority. Editor: I’ll definitely remember to consider these power dynamics in other artworks. Curator: Indeed, they are often present.