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Europe 1300 - 1800
Course: Europe 1300 - 1800 > Unit 9
Lesson 2: Italy- Restoring ancient sculpture in Baroque Rome
- Bernini, Pluto and Proserpina
- Bernini, David
- Bernini, David
- Bernini, David
- Bernini, Apollo and Daphne
- Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Baldacchino
- Bernini, Bust of Medusa
- Bernini, Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
- Bernini, Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
- Bernini, Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
- Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Cathedra Petri (Chair of St. Peter)
- Bernini, Saint Peter's Square
- Bernini, Sant'Andrea al Quirinale
- Geometry and motion in Borromini's San Carlo
- Carracci, Christ Appearing to Saint Peter on the Appian Way
- Caravaggio, Narcissus at the Source
- Caravaggio, Calling of Saint Matthew
- Caravaggio, Calling of St. Matthew
- Caravaggio, The Conversion of St. Paul (or The Conversion of Saul)
- Caravaggio, Crucifixion of Saint Peter
- Caravaggio, Supper at Emmaus
- Caravaggio, Deposition
- Caravaggio, Saint John the Baptist in the Wilderness
- Caravaggio, The Flagellation of Christ
- Caravaggio, Death of the Virgin
- Caravaggio and Caravaggisti in 17th-Century Europe
- Reni, Aurora
- Gentileschi, Judith Slaying Holofernes
- Gentileschi, Judith and Holofernes
- Gentileschi, Judith and Her Maidservant with the Head of Holofernes
- Gentileschi, Conversion of the Magdalene
- Elisabetta Sirani, Portia Wounding her Thigh
- Guercino, Saint Luke Displaying a Painting of the Virgin
- Il Gesù, including Triumph of the Name of Jesus ceiling fresco
- Pozzo, Saint Ignatius Chapel, Il Gesù
- Pozzo, Glorification of Saint Ignatius, Sant'Ignazio
- The altar tabernacle, Pauline Chapel, Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
- Pierre Le Gros the Younger, Stanislas Kostka on his Deathbed
- Baroque art in Italy
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Bernini, Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
Gian Lorenzo Bernini, Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, 1647–52 (Cornaro Chapel, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome). Speakers: Dr. Beth Harris and Dr. Steven Zucker
This is Saint Teresa's description of the event that Bernini depicts: "Beside me, on the left, appeared an angel in bodily form.... He was not tall but short, and very beautiful; and his face was so aflame that he appeared to be one of the highest rank of angels, who seem to be all on fire.... In his hands I saw a great golden spear, and at the iron tip there appeared to be a point of fire. This he plunged into my heart several times so that it penetrated to my entrails. When he pulled it out I felt that he took them with it, and left me utterly consumed by the great love of God. The pain was so severe that it made me utter several moans. The sweetness caused by this intense pain is so extreme that one cannot possibly wish it to cease, nor is one's soul content with anything but God. This is not a physical but a spiritual pain, though the body has some share in it—even a considerable share."
. Created by Smarthistory.Want to join the conversation?
What is installation art, mentioned at0:17?(22 votes)
Installation art is intended to interact with the space it is presented in. I think that in this case they are referring to the fact that Bernini designed the sculpture along with gold rays specifically for this alcove in the Cornaro chapel. Additionally if you remove the sculpture from the alcove and the gold rays, the piece losses much of it's meaning and impact.(27 votes)
OK, I get the sexual metaphor; but what reason did Bernini have to think the angel would stab Teresa in the heart with the arrow?(9 votes)- Artists interpret. Teresa describes her ecstasy and Bernini ran with the imagery that he perceived and depicted her in a way that that made sense to him and in a way that he could communicate that message to the viewer. In her autobiography she states "I saw in his hand a long spear of gold, and at the iron's point there seemed to be a little fire. He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart, and to pierce my very entrails; when he drew it out, he seemed to draw them out also, and to leave me all on fire with a great love of God. "(19 votes)
how long did it take him to complete this work?(6 votes)
wow that's amazing how did Kushp1866 find that out?(1 vote)
How is the marble he used colored marble as mentioned in0:47-0:49? The marble looks fairly white.(7 votes)
About whispering voices: Why didn't they record the video and comment later? You could easily do that with a video editing software, right?(5 votes)
I agree; since they add the music later, why not the commentary? The music is quite loud compared to the voices and I wish they would turn it down a bit.
I made a complaint about the whispering a couple of days ago and said that transcripts would help; later I discovered that there are "interactive transcripts" under the Options button.(2 votes)
How old was he when he created the sculpture ? :)(2 votes)- This is seven years late, but still... Bernini was born in 1598 so he would have been 49 years old when he started work on this sculpture in 1647. So not all that young really.(3 votes)
- is this counter reformation or reformation(2 votes)
- reformation is what was happening in Germany with people such as Martin Luther(1 vote)
The title of this video says "Teresa", but the caption says "Theresa". Which is the correct spelling?(0 votes)
Teresa is the Italian spelling. Theresa is English. Both are correct.(6 votes)
- I am fully aware that the question I am going to ask is not a real "Khan Academy" question, but can someone please tell me why they are whispering? At some points it is hard to understand. No offense, but art can be enjoyed on a higher sound level too. Thank you. :)(2 votes)
Many of the pieces of art that Steve and Beth are commenting on are located in places where normal conversation volumes would interfere with the use of the building by others. In the case of a church, patrons expect to use it for quiet contemplation and prayer - imagine someone talking on a cell phone in a library or in a courtroom during a trial and you'll get the idea.(5 votes)
- what verse or book in the Bible tells the story of Ecstasy of Saint Teresa?(1 vote)
- This is not a Biblical account. St. Teresa of Avila was a 16th century Carmelite (Catholic) nun. The passage quoted is from her autobiography, "The Life of Teresa of Jesus."(3 votes)
0:17
