[Photo: The Ecstasy of St. Teresa by Gian
Lorenzo Bernini at the Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome]
Wikipedia:
Teresa of Ávila, also called Saint Teresa
of Jesus, baptized as Teresa Sánchez de Cepeda y Ahumada, (March 28, 1515 –
October 4, 1582) was a prominent Spanish mystic, Roman Catholic saint,
Carmelite nun, writer of the Counter Reformation, and theologian of
contemplative life through mental prayer. She was a reformer of the Carmelite
Order and is considered to be a founder of the Discalced Carmelites along with
John of the Cross.
In 1622, forty years after her death, she
was canonized by Pope Gregory XV and in September 27, 1970 was named a Doctor
of the Church by Pope Paul VI.[6] Her books, which include her autobiography
(The Life of Teresa of Jesus) and her seminal work El Castillo Interior
(trans.: The Interior Castle) are an integral part of Spanish Renaissance literature
as well as Christian mysticism and Christian meditation practices as she
entails in her other important work, Camino de Perfección (trans.: The Way of
Perfection).
Khanacademy.org
This is her 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 wasso
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.
Annenberg Learner
Bernini’s sculptural group shows a
cupid-like angel holding an arrow. His delicate touch and lithe figure give him
an air of grace. With her head thrown back and eyes closed, Teresa herself
collapses, overcome with the feeling of God’s love. Her physical body seems to
have dematerialized beneath the heavy drapery of her robe. Twisting folds of
fabric energize the scene and bronze rays, emanating from an unseen source,
seem to rain down divine light. The combined effect is one of intense drama,
the ethereality of which denies the true nature of the work of art. Despite
being made of heavy marble, saint and angel—set upon a cloud—appear to float
weightlessly.
Love this Beautiful Art.
ReplyDeleteLove all your photographs fr.