Time Arrested by Death 

Gian Lorenzo Bernini carved ‘Time Arrested by Death’ in terracotta, though the exact date of its creation is unknown. In it, Bernini embodies Time as a muscular, winged figure, bravely shouldering a block inscribed with a skull, while a skeletal Death reaches out to stop him. Bernini was working in Rome during the Counter-Reformation, a period in which the Catholic Church sought to reassert its authority through visual spectacle. Sculpture was deployed to teach moral lessons. This work reflects the period's preoccupation with mortality and salvation. Time, often associated with earthly pursuits and vanity, is shown to be ultimately subject to death's inevitable dominion, reminding viewers of the transience of life and the need to focus on eternal matters. To fully appreciate Bernini's sculpture, one can explore archival materials from the period, including religious treatises and papal decrees. Examining these sources provides insight into the cultural and institutional forces that shaped the production and reception of Bernini's powerful work.