What is Gian Lorenzo Bernini?
{{Infobox artist|name=Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini|native_name=|birth_name=|other_names=Gianlorenzo Bernini|image=Gian Lorenzo Bernini, self-portrait, c1623.jpg|caption=|birth_date={{birth date|1598|12|7|df=yes}}|death_date={{death date and age|df=yes|1680|11|28|1598|12|7}}|notable_works=|works=}} '''Gian Lorenzo''' (or '''Gianlorenzo''') '''Bernini''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|b|ɛər|ˈ|n|iː|n|i}}, {{IPAc-en|US|b|ər|ˈ|-}}, {{IPA-it|ˈdʒan loˈrɛntso berˈniːni|lang}}; <small>Italian</small> '''Giovanni Lorenzo'''; 7 December [[1598]]{{spnd}}28 November 1680) was one of the greatest [[artist]]s of the Italian [[Baroque]] period. He was famous both for his [[sculpture]] and his [[architecture]]. From 1627, he worked for [[List of ages of popes|Pope Urban XIII]] and then for [[List of ages of popes|Pope Alexander VII]] at [[St. Peter's Basilica]] where he designed the famous ''piazza'' (place) in front of the [[basilica]] and many of the most splendid things that are inside. ==Early life== Bernini was born in [[Naples]], [[Italy]]. He was the son of Pietro Bernini (1562-1629) who was a well known sculptor. When he was about 7 years old, his father took him to [[Rome]]. == Inspiration == As a boy and as a young man living in Rome, he saw the works of many famous artists. He saw the famous [[fresco]] paintings on the ceiling of the [[Sistine Chapel]] by [[Michelangelo]], one of the most famous artists of the 1500s. The paintings told the [[Bible]] story of Creation. He saw the huge dome of St. Peter's Basilica which Michelangelo designed and the new extension to the building that was being built by Carlo Maderna. == Works == One artist who Bernini knew well was [[Annibale Carracci]] who painted scenes on the ceilings of rooms for the pope. The scenes told stories, often [[Ancient Rome|Ancient Roman]] legends. Carracci took Bernini into St. Peter's Basilica. Bernini fell on his knees and decided at that moment that he wanted to make something beautiful and splendid to honour [[Saint Peter]]. Another artist whose work Bernini saw was