The Ecstacy of St Teresa

I just uploaded a new userpic, from 'The Ecstasy of St Teresa' by Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1652).



The sculpture has two figures; the swooning nun and the angel with the spear. The sculptor Bernini apparently took his inspiration from this quote by Teresa of Avila in her autobiography:

"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. The pain was so great, that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it. The soul is satisfied now with nothing less than God. The pain is not bodily, but spiritual; though the body has its share in it. It is a caressing of love so sweet which now takes place between the soul and God, that I pray God of His goodness to make him experience it who may think that I am lying."

I mean, wow. I mean, really, WOW!

I know there has been lots of debate about the nature of her ecstasy – yet whatever it is, it just blows my mind…