The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa

In The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, Bernini depicts the moment a divine angel pierces Teresa’s heart with a golden arrow, filling her with overwhelming spiritual rapture. Suspended between pain and bliss, her body yields as her soul is consumed by divine love. Drapery dissolves into movement and light, blurring the boundary between flesh and spirit. The work captures a profound union with God, where transcendence is felt as both ecstasy and surrender. The mythology surrounding Bernini’s inspiration survives until this day.

Pierced, she yields to a sweetness beyond pain.
The body trembles where the soul is taken.
Ecstasy blurs the boundary between flesh and divine.

Oil on canvas, 2023
Size: 20” x 20”
Price: £550

© Robert Walker 2026
@theartistrobert