What happened to the Bernini elephant statue in Rome?

The tip of the left tusk of the Bernini elephant sculpture in Rome broke off again, with an 11-centimeter marble fragment found by police.

Is the broken tusk piece original to Bernini's work?

No, the detached marble fragment was not part of the original sculpture by Bernini but was added during a 1977 restoration.

Has the elephant sculpture been damaged before?

Yes, the tip of the left tusk had previously broken off during an act of vandalism in 2016.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Rome Elephant Tusk Breaks Off... Again!

Rome Elephant Tusk Breaks Off... Again!

18 Feb

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Summary

A marble fragment from the elephant sculpture's tusk was found.
The detached piece was not part of the original Bernini sculpture.
This is the second time the tusk tip has broken off since 2016.

Italian authorities are investigating the recent damage to Rome's beloved Bernini elephant sculpture. Police found an 11-centimeter marble fragment from the left tusk over the weekend. This piece, discovered near the monument, was not part of the original Bernini creation but was added during 1977 restoration work.

This marks the second instance of the tusk tip breaking off; the first occurred in 2016 due to vandalism. The stocky elephant, located in Piazza della Minerva, is a popular tourist attraction. Pope Alexander VII commissioned Bernini to design the monument, which supports an Egyptian obelisk on its back.

Disagreements between Bernini and the friars during its creation led to a supporting structure under the elephant's belly, giving it a stockier appearance and earning it the nickname "Minerva's Piglet." Legend suggests Bernini retaliated by positioning the elephant's rear toward the friars' convent.

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