VIS 20 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Classical Antiquity, Light Beam, St. Anger
Europe 1600-1700: Baroque Art in Italy
❏Theme: art involving physical reality, involving emotions and human interaction
❏Beginnings of the counter-reformation - an attempt to fight back against protestantism
❏Ecstasy of St. Theresa in Cornaro Chapel
❏By Bernini, inside the transept of the church
❏Church was dedicated to St Mary of Victory
❏Barrel vault with stucco angels and clouds, dove of the holy spirit
❏Opera boxes to the side-> shallow relief that makes the background appear like a
larger space; 4 portrait sculptures of cardinals of the church (celebration of the
cornaro family)
❏Lighting from behind the pediment-> natural light on saint theresa
❏Two figures floating on a marble cloud
❏Saint theresa of ovula, died in 1582, one of the reformers of catholic
church, founded barefoot caramel lights, wrote books about prayer,
experienced ruptures where she felt physically one with god -> asked
people to sit on her so she won’t float away
❏Bernini translated her description of her ecstasy into marble
❏Bernini was reprimanded for prostituting and making the saint teresa's religious
experience into a physical one
❏Cathedra Petri, Bernini Saint Peter’s Rome
❏Piazza with circular colonnade
❏Canopy over the altar, marble sculptures, all designed by bernini
❏“The bishop’s throne of Saint Peter”- a reliquary
❏Wooden throne of saint peter, saint peter was the first pope, reinforces authority
❏Covered in bronze with gold gilding
❏Angels perched on the back, keys to heaven, carrying the headgear of the
pope
❏Four church fathers supporting the throne
❏Importance of theological writings
❏Stained glass window with the dove of the holy spirit
❏Gilded lights and clouds and angels
❏Meant to be overwhelming and dramatic
❏David, by Bernini - in a public Villa from a patron
❏David in battle, hurling a stone towards goliath
❏5’7’’, lifesize, made of marble, based made of the armor given to david
❏More prudish Heroically nude, figure twisted -> makes people interact with it,
❏Shepherd's pouch, cloak covering up david,
❏Muscular but thinner, contorted face with effort, realistic
❏San Carlo alle Quattro Fontane, Borromini
Document Summary
Theme: art involving physical reality, involving emotions and human interaction. Beginnings of the counter-reformation - an attempt to fight back against protestantism. Ecstasy of st. theresa in cornaro chapel. By bernini, inside the transept of the church. Church was dedicated to st mary of victory. Barrel vault with stucco angels and clouds, dove of the holy spirit. Opera boxes to the side-> shallow relief that makes the background appear like a larger space; 4 portrait sculptures of cardinals of the church (celebration of the cornaro family) Lighting from behind the pediment-> natural light on saint theresa. Two figures floating on a marble cloud. Bernini translated her description of her ecstasy into marble. Bernini was reprimanded for prostituting and making the saint teresa"s religious experience into a physical one. Canopy over the altar, marble sculptures, all designed by bernini. The bishop"s throne of saint peter - a reliquary. Wooden throne of saint peter, saint peter was the first pope, reinforces authority.
