Michelangelo's "Pieta" and Bernini's "Saint Teresa"

Paper Summary:

This paper compares one of the greatest works of renaissance art, Michelangelo's "Pieta," with a superb example of the complexity of baroque art, Bernini's "Saint Teresa in Ecstasy." The writer explains the Neo-Platonist and humanist influences on Michelangelo and his "Pieta," and describes the sculpture in its moving simplicity in detail. The writer then explains how Bernini's statue combines the baroque emotion with counter-reformation mysticism. The paper concludes that both Michelangelo and Bernini were masters of their craft, bringing life to cold marble and bronze, with different styles of expressing their veneration for God.

From the Paper:

"However, apart from earlier religious works, Michelangelo's sculpture had an unmistakable air of humanism. A recurring theme in renaissance art, humanism was fueled by a renewed interest in the individual, under the idea that humanity is a miracle, and you glorified god by portraying his creations in a beautiful manner. This led to much more realistic depictions of the world, the figures of medieval art becoming more three-dimensional, and less homogeneous. The Pieta is an excellent example of this new way of viewing the world, as it was wholly life-sized, and made to be viewed in the round, all sides available to be seen."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Adams, Laurie Schneider. Key Monuments of the Baroque. Colorado: Westview Press, 2000.
• Careri, Giovanni. Bernini. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1995.
• Cunningham, Lawrence, and John Reich. Culture and Values A survey of the Humanities. Volume II 5th Ed. United States of America, 2002.
• Robb, Nesca. The Neo-Platonism of the Italian Renaissance. London, 1935.
• Ventura, Piero. Michelangelo's World. Canada: Milan, 1989

More papers on Michelangelo's "Pieta" and Bernini's "Saint Teresa":

• Analytical Essay # 106081 : "Michelangelo and Bernini"
• Essay # 101248 : "Saint Peter and the Saint Peter's Basilica"
• Comparison Essay # 31230 : "The Self-Portraits of Rembrandt and Bernini"

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