Teresa represents an episode from the life of the saint as recorded in her spiritual autobiography. But then a cardinal named federico cornaro came calling. This is saint teresa s description of the event that bernini depicts. Theresa is often described as a gesamtkunstwerk a german word meaning total work of art for the artists incorporation of a variety of elements. However, professor robert harbison, in his book reflections on baroque 2000. Art and architecture in italy 16001750, pelican history of art. Saint teresa of avila, spanish nun, one of the great mystics, reformers, and religious women of the roman catholic church.
Here is teresa s own description of the event, which she narrates in some detail in the book of her life. In it, she described an angel who pierced her heart multiple times with firetipped spear. The life of saint teresa of avila by herself, chapter 29. Saint teresas love of god and her desire for spiritual union with him found expression. Eire, a professor of history and religious studies at yale university. It was designed and completed by gian lorenzo bernini, the leading sculptor of his day, who also. The life of saint teresa of avila is termed an autohagiography, a selfjustification of saintliness, by carlos eire, a professor of history and religious studies at yale university. Roman catholicism was so much more fun during the counterreformation. Choose from 393 different sets of the ecstasy of st. Ecstasy of saint teresa vs yaxchilan lintels e does history. Saint teresa of avilas story teresa lived in an age of exploration as well as political, social, and religious upheaval.
Teresa is having a vision of an angel telling her to come worship god. It was designed and completed by gian lorenzo bernini, the leading sculptor of his day. Bernini, ecstasy of saint teresa video khan academy. Summary of the interior castle teresa of avila turns 500. Saint teresas spiritual orgasm, rome tours rome blog. It is generally considered to be one of the sculptural masterpieces of the high roman baroque. Beside me, on the left, appeared an angel in bodily form. The word psyche in contemporary analytical psychology has taken on. Other than the sculpture, there are wooden rays that come down behind the sculpture symbolizing the effect of light rays. He believed that the closest anyone would get to capturing the essence of them was to sculpt the moment directly before or after they spoke, which is clearly displayed in his ecstasy of st. In representing teresa s vision, during which an angel pierced her heart with a fiery arrow of divine.
Summary of saint teresa of avila catholic strength. It was the 16th century, a time of turmoil and reform. It is an artistic approach directed to give the viewers the impression that a special and incredible event in fact a miraculous. Other articles where the ecstasy of saint teresa is discussed.
Mcgraw hill, 2015, please write in complete sentences and use paragraph form. The arguments, referring to gian lorenzo berninis depiction of teresa of avila in a state of pure ecstasy upon being struck in the heart by a cherub, were based on the artists depiction of said ecstasy. Richard foster, author of the classic spiritual formation book celebration of. The ecstasy of saint theresa pigment ep 1991 youtube. Shop for vinyl, cds and more from the ecstasy of saint theresa at the discogs marketplace. The life of saint teresa of avila is termed an autohagiography, a.
Brief history of berninis brilliant ecstasy of saint teresa after losing favor with pope innocent x, gian lorenzo bernini 15981680 struggled to find a patron for his artistic genius. Some book covers of seminar xx have a picture of the statue on the front. Swoon bernini brings all the passion and rapture of teresas story to represent, perhaps for the first time, the nowimmortalized image of a. Located above the altar of the cornaro chapel in romes santa maria della vittoria, bernini s the ecstasy of st. Theresa of avila was a spanish nun, mystic and writer during the counterreformation. Antonius wierix, ii netherlandish, antwerp 1555591604 antwerp date.
The ecstasy of saint teresa by alessandro luna on prezi. Bernini, ecstasy of saint teresa article khan academy. Ecstasy of saint teresa, gian lorenzo bernini ap art. This sculptural complex was created from 1647 to 1652 by italian sculptor gian lorenzo bernini, and was nestled in the churchs wall, since the artist wanted to give the artwork more depht. Gian lorenzo bernini, ecstasy of saint teresa, 164752 cornaro chapel, santa maria. The ecstasy of saint teresa summary 1020 words bartleby. In this work, rightly considered now one of the highest achievements of the baroque, bernini represented saint teresa in ecstasy, demonstrating not only his theological competence but also that theatrical style that was so peculiar of him. In relation to the baroque period, the artist acquaints the concept of devotional love in relation to sublimity. Author of numerous spiritual classics, she was elevated to doctor of the church by pope paul vi in 1970. You needed to put that in the nom wp consistency is.
Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Not on view saint peter, saint paul, and saint john the baptist. It was commissioned by cardinal frederico cornaro and the use was originally to be for his burial chamber. This note is merely a summary of saint teresa of avilas great book on catholic mysticism, the interior castle, which was first published in 1588. Cornaro chapel grouping of the patrons aka cornaro family sculpture displayed to the left of st. Because of this, when napoleon robbed romes churches, he couldnt take the ecstasy with. I read about the controversy surrounding the ecstasy of saint teresa sculpture before i saw it. In addition, teresa was author of numerous books, including her life. This is a work that can best described as ravishing. Saint teresa of avilas agony and ecstasy america magazine. Gian lorenzo benini established the ecstasy of saint teresa in 16451642 inhabiting the cornaro chapel of the santa maria della vittoria. Saint teresa was the inspiration for one of berninis most famous sculptures, the ecstasy of st. The ecstasy of saint teresa alternatively saint teresa in ecstasy or transverberation of saint teresa. Because the book is a more about saint teresa s autobiography, the book of her life oftentimes shortened to vida in spanish and life in english, than it is about saint teresa herself.
It was designed and completed by gian lorenzo bernini, the leading sculptor of his day, who also designed the setting of the chapel in marble, stucco and paint. Theresa is considered by many as the apogee of berninis oeuvre and is notable for the following qualities. The ecstasy of saint teresa depicts a scene that teresa wrote about in her own autobiography. The saint herself, a carmelite nun, was a great mystic, and her personal style of writing demonstrates that she composed the interior castle from profound personal experience 1. If all you know about teresa s experience of having her heart pierced comes from berninis famous statue the ecstasy of saint teresa, you are missing out. Lestasi di santa teresa or santa teresa in estasi is the central sculptural group in white marble set in an elevated aedicule in the cornaro chapel, santa maria della vittoria, rome. Saint teresas love of god and her desire for spiritual union. Learn more about her life, mysticism, religious reforms, and legacy. Describes how the lord began to awaken her soul in childhood to a love of virtue and what a help it is in this respect to have good parents chapter ii. She lived during the middle of the sixteenth century in spainat the height of the reformation.
The ecstasy of saint teresa sculpture by bernini britannica. Explore releases from the ecstasy of saint theresa at discogs. Readers can absorb the overview of teresa of avilas spiritual life, then settle back to read her own words on the stages of the spiritual journey, from the web of wonder through disillusionment and shattering to glory. A summary of the interior castle even those devoting much of their life to studying spiritual literature find the interior castle a complex book. It is currently displayed in the cornaro chapel of the santa marie della vittora in rome. Miller is joined by carlos eire of yale university to discuss the life of saint teresa of avila. The ecstasy of saint teresa is the central sculptural group in white marble set in an elevated. Canonized aka made a saint by the church lived in 16th century spain at the height of the reformation.
Teresa is the central marble group of a sculpture complex designed and completed by giovanni lorenzo bernini for the cornaro chapel of santa maria della vittoria in rome. One of the greatest sculptures from the era of baroque art, the marble ensemble known as the ecstasy of saint teresa lestasi di santa teresa, located in the cornaro chapel of the church of santa maria della vittoria, was carved by bernini 15981680, one of the leading baroque sculptors of the roman school. The bulk of the book consists of succinct quotes from twelve different works. Saint teresa was a nun who was canonized made a saint by the church in part because of the spiritual visions she experienced. The church was extended so that a hidden window could be added to cast light upon the sculpture, as if from the holy spirit. Bernini, ecstasy of saint teresa our mission is to provide a free, worldclass education to anyone, anywhere. It is one of the sculptural masterpieces of high roman baroque gallery. Maurice ravel and arthur rimbaud and has translated many books from french. Teresa to be in a state of spiritual ecstasy and if you have any doubt that she is experiencing what is sexual orgasm, just read the episode described by teresa of avila in her autobiography, the life of teresa of jesus 15151582.
Italian baroque sculptor, gian lorenzo berninis ecstasy of saint teresa is one of the most powerful expressions of personal epiphany in the entire history of the visual arts, itself evoking duende, the spanish word for a heightened state of emotion created by a living piece of art. Teresa, 164552 cornaro chapel, santa maria della vittoria, rome. She wrote about her visions in several books, including this description of the scene bernini depicted. Teresa describes an angel carrying a firetipped spear with which he pierces her heart repeatedly, an act that sends her into a state of spiritual rapture. Ecstasy of saint teresa vs the yaxchilan lintels e does. Readers can absorb the overview of teresa of avilas spiritual life, then settle back to read her own words on the stages of the spiritual journey, from the web of wonder through disillusionment and shattering to. Saint teresa wrote several books in which she described her visions. The ecstasy of saint teresa setting bernini is praised for his synthesis of sculpture, painting, and architecture.