Art Encounter Blog #1

For my very first art Encounters blog, I have decided to select the Sculpture aspect of the Beginners Guide to the Humanities. I believe that throughout the readings we have come across and addressed numerous different examples of Sculptures, so I believe that it is only fitting to discuss this aspect in my very first Art Encounters Blog.


Through reading the assigned chapters and pages in the Beginners Guide, I have grown to better understand and relate to the idea of sculptures, and what it takes in order to thoroughly understand and embrace such pieces of art. You cannot look at the individual piece and see it as a solitary figure and judge it based on what you see. You need to be able to embrace the idea, the motivation and the process in which was taken to create such a symbol to society and history.


Not only should you take the opportunity to walk around and introduce yourself to the piece, but you should also take a better understanding of what went into the creation of this piece, what the sculptor's hands look like, what his building surface resembled, and what his motivation background may have been for the piece.


The sculptor of the piece is Gianlorenzo Bernini. The title of the piece is Ecstasy of Saint Teresa. It was created through the time period of 1646 though 1652. The location in which the sculpture was created in the same area as where he was completing the Bronze Baldachin over the altar in Saint Peter Basilica.


Finally, the sculpture that I decided to critique and elaborate upon, is the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa.It was created by Gianlorenzo Bernini. The structure was created in 1646- 52. Saint Teresa was the Spanish Carmelite nun. She was well respected by the Catholic Church and was seen as one of the most charismatic saints. Ultimately, I think that this sculpture not only provided individuals back in that time period with the idea that there was some holiness and godly expression to the artistic output, but also a sense of profoundness and prophecy that accompanied it. 


In the end, the physical features and details of the sculpture are very flowing and with very detailed facial and cosmetic features. The shape is of two human bodies, one draped over the other almost in a god-like figure. I find it difficult to tell what the sculpture's color is but I would assume a marble texture. The lines of the piece are very smooth and contextual, giving the piece movement and the idea of space as the bodies are stretched length wise.

I think this sculpture is very beautiful and provides viewers from all backgrounds and age groups a feeling of ecstasy and godliness.