Why would you say that Apollo and Daphne is one of Bernini's greatest work?

Same goes for The Throne of Saint Peter

Why would you say that Apollo and Daphne is one of Bernini's greatest work?
My favourite is the Ecstasy of St. Theresa in the church of Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome. (Link 1)





Second would be the Rape of Proserpina in the Galleria Borghese in Rome. (Link 2)





Apollo and Daphne is my 3rd choice, but I do not like St. Peter's Throne very much at all I'm afraid.
Reply:Greatest work? That's a tough one to call really... his work is phenomenal!


I can say with out doubt that Apollo and Daphne is my favourite! (The Throne is impressive for sure.... a little too much for my taste.)


I had admired the sculpture for years in books and was extremely fortunate to see it (and all the other amazing works) in person in The Galleria Borgese in Rome.


It was more beautiful in person, I teared up I was so overcome with feelings for the work.


The emotion captured in the expressions... Apollo's love, Daphne's fear and confusion. The way the bodies are in motion capturing that instance.


For a man of that time Bernini really was imaginative of how Daphne's fingers were turning into branches %26amp; leaves and her toes turning into roots.


I was amazed and in awe of how Bernini handled the stone... The 'material' behind Apollo was airy %26amp; light and almost transluscent! I could see light 'trying' to get through, it was that thin! No power tools!


There won't be another one like Bernini.
Reply:I think Bernini's "Apollo and Daphne" is one of the most exquisite sculptures of all time. What makes it a masterpiece is the combination of extremely precise and deftly wrought detail, and the completely natural rhythm and movement of the figures. When viewing it, we experience the sense that two actual, exquisite beings have been arrested and frozen at precisely the right moment to both enhance their beauty and tell us everything we need to know about them in order to relate to them, to understand them, to feel compassion for them; and to fill us with pleasure over the fact that something so perfect and delicate and seemingly fleeting could be wrought from stone by a mere mortal.