Lecture Notes: Bernini and The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa

Background on Bernini

• Gian Lorenzo Bernini was an artist deeply religious himself.
• Renowned for his work as both a sculptor and an architect.
• Known for integrating his religious faith with his interest in theater.
• Engaged in theatrical design and playwriting.

The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa

• Located in the Cornaro Chapel, Church of Santa Maria de la Vittoria.
• Bernini combined sculpture, architecture, painting, stained glass, and gilding.
• Designed to inspire faith and illustrate the miraculous.

Subject Matter

• The sculpture depicts Saint Teresa of Ávila, recently canonized in 1622.
• Represents one of her visions involving an angel.
• Saint Teresa described an angel with a fiery spear piercing her heart.

Artistic and Symbolic Approach

• The physical and spiritual experience is central to Bernini's work.
• Utilizes the physical body and sexual symbolism to express spiritual ecstasy.
• Saint Teresa's vision and its dramatic physical impact are sculpted in marble.

Visual Elements

• Angel and Teresa depicted with distinct textural contrasts using marble.
• The angel’s smile and graceful form contrast with Teresa’s earthbound heaviness.
• The sculpture appears to float, supported discreetly, emphasizing the miraculous nature.

Contextual Significance

• Created during the Reformation when Protestantism challenged Catholic practices.
• Bernini’s work counters Protestant simplicity by emphasizing Catholic ceremony and grandeur.
• Demonstrates a direct relationship between individuals and the spiritual realm.

Baroque Art and Viewer Engagement

• Baroque art aims to involve the viewer emotionally and sensorially.
• Bernini creates an immersive experience by considering the entire chapel space.

Interaction with the Audience

• Relief sculptures depict figures in theater boxes, enhancing the sense of audience participation.
• The chapel's design makes viewers feel like they are part of the narrative.

Technical and Dramatic Effects

• Used hidden lighting techniques to dramatize the sculpture.
• A hidden window directs light onto the figures, simulating divine illumination.
• Bernini’s craftsmanship bridges earthly and spiritual experiences through art.

Conclusion

• "The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa" is an emotionally powerful piece exemplifying Baroque art's focus on transformation and spiritual awakening.
• Bernini masterfully orchestrates a union between the earthly and the spiritual realms.