Ecstasy Of Saint Teresa: Bernini’s Scandalous Masterpiece 

Santa Maria della Vittoria may be just a modest-sized church in Rome.

But it houses one of Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s most famous and provocative masterpieces: The Ecstasy of St. Teresa.

This dramatic masterpiece is located in the church’s Cornaro Chapel. It’s an absolute highlight of Baroque art in the city.

the exterior facade of Santa Maria della Vittoria
Santa Maria della Vittoria

Built in the early 1600s, the church’s ornate interior provides the perfect stage for Bernini’s theatrical vision.

The risqué sculpture is a complex ensemble, Bernini stagecraft at the height of his maximalism ethos. The sculpture hovers above in an elevated niche.

And the sculpture captures Bernini’s penchant for skillfully combining art, architecture, and light to create an over-the-top artwork.

Ecstasy of Saint Teresa in the Church of Santa Maria delle Vittoria

Ecstasy of St. Teresa

What is it?

The Ecstasy of St. Teresa is an amazing sculpture that Bernini created between 1647 and 1652. In fact, the artist decorated every last drop of the entire chapel in splendid fashion just to stage this masterpiece.

It’s a marriage of art, sculpture, and architecture. It’s an amazing thing to see — Bernini as an art director making multi-media magic.

The famous sculpture sits in a sort of tabernacle, which frames the sculpture. There’s a pair of Corinthian columns on each side of the opening. The columns support an elaborate convex pediment.

Behind the pediment is a hidden window. Bernini did this to cover the sculpture in natural light, amping up its theatricality.

The sculpture itself depicts a supernatural moment from the Spanish saint’s writings.

Ecstasy of St. Theresa

Teresa described an angel piercing her heart with a long golden spear. She said the pain was “terrible.” But it filled her with divine love, a “caressing of God so sweet,” and “left her on fire.”

Pro Tip: There are manuscripts of the autobiography in the church. So you can read her words for yourself.

Bernini brought this vision to life with stunning detail.

Teresa is shown reclining on a cloud, her body overcome with emotion. Golden rays of light pour down from above.

A male angel hovers over her, holding the arrow with two fingers. He plunges the spear into Teresa’s heart.

His grin looks almost mischievous as he does so. The angel is swathed in drapery, which almost seems to move and billow, emphasizing the action taking place.

close up of the sculpture

St. Teresa herself is literally overwhelmed by marble fabric and is swooning. She looks like she is almost melting away under for ecstasy, all on fire and about to dissolve.

Look at her face. It personifies ecstasy.

Her eyes are closed, her fingers twitch, her left foot dangles, and she’s letting herself go. Teresa’s expression, open mouth, and arched body all appear extremely sensual.

The obvious naughtiness of Ecstasy of St. Teresa has sparked debate for centuries.

Some believe that, because of the sensual elements, Bernini intended to depict a physical, almost erotic experience.

Others think it reflects the intensity of divine passion, as per Teresa’s autobiography. Or that Bernini intentionally blurred the lines between sacred and physical passion.

Adding to the intrigue, art historians note that Teresa’s features resemble Bernini’s mistress, Costanza Bonarelli.

But that’s not all! On either side of the sculpture, marble sculptures of members of the Cornaro family are sculpted into “theater boxes” as if they were at an opera.

They’re actual true-to-life portraits. Behind them is illusionistic architecture to set the scene.

The men are witnesses to this powerful moment. Indeed, they appear to be discussing the sculpture and reading St. Teresa’s autobiography. This setup makes the chapel feel like a theater stage, heightening the drama of the scene.

The Bernini-designed ceiling fresco
The Bernini-designed ceiling fresco

To top it off, Bernini designed the frothy fresco just above the sculpture.

He didn’t paint it. His workshop did. Still, it’s attributed to him.

You see an image of a dove descending from heaven in a golden glow. Angels sit on top of clouds. You can see Bernini was influenced by the artist Correggio.

Finally, along the bottom of the sculpture, you’ll see reliefs of The Last Supper. It reflects the Eucharistic theme, emphasizing the sacramental connection between Christ’s sacrifice and Saint Teresa’s mystical union with the divine.

I guarantee you will leave the chapel amazed by the genius and boldness of this Baroque masterpiece.

Bernini, The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, 1645-52

Practical Guide & Tips For Visiting The Cornaro Chapel

Address: Via Venti Settembre, 17, 00187 Rome. The sculpture is in the last chapel on left side of the church in the back. The church is only about a 10 minute walk from Termini Station.

Hours:

Monday to Saturday: 7:00 am – 12:00 pm and 3:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Sundays and Holidays: 3:30 pm – 7:00 pm

Tickets: The church is free to visit.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my guide to Bernini’s Ecstasy of St. Theresa. You may find these other Rome travel guides useful:

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