among the many Bernini statues in the collection is one standout. It's Apollo seizing Danae (sp?), a nymph. The story goes that Apollo, finding this particular nymph comely, seizes her nakedness...she cries out to her father, the river god, and he rescues her by turning her into a tree. Bernini captures the instant the transformation begins. So you see roots beginning to grow from her toes and fingers, and shoots with leaves sprouting from her back, bark growing up her midsection, all in white marble. What is truly incredible, especially for hacks like us, is that the leaves are individually carved, delicate little slivers, just like real leaves...only we were told that when they cleaned and restored the statute, they found that you could flick the leaves and they would ring out like crystal. Anyway, we thought it was real good.
On to Naples today by train.
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