Rome, Italy
Rape of Prosperpina by PlutoBy Gian Lorenzo Bernini
1621. Bernini was 23 and completed this in a year.
Pluto, the god of the underworld, is abducting Prosperpina the daughter of Gea (Earth). By interceding with Jupiter Gea had obtained permission for her daughter to return to Earth for half a year before returning to Hades. Thus every spring the Earth welcomes her with spring flowers. However Proserpina is reluctant to return to Hades and reneges on the agreement. Pluto comes to bring her back - and worse. There are apctual tears streaming down her cheek and if you look closely you can see that her flesh is soft in Pluto's iron grip. Amazing.