Lecture 31: Gian Lorenzo Bernini
that look like theater boxes, loges. They are populated by the seven cardinals
of the Cornaro family, although but six of the seven lived in the 16th century,
and the other was Federigo whose burial place is here in the chapel. The
eighth ¿ gure was Federigo’s father. On the left side, some of these cardinals
are discussing the vision, not looking at it, since they did not see it. It is
the interaction among the cardinals that is original here. On the right side,
we see the rest of them. Bernini’s assistants
carved these sculptural groups, and one of his
painters did the vault above the chapel, but
Bernini made the overall design and carved
the central group, which shows the Ecstasy of
St. Teresa. Teresa was a mystic who was also a
reformer, organizer, and administrator. Bernini
was guided in his creation by her own words
describing her vision of an angel plunging a
spear into her heart.Next, we will look at the Fountain of the
Four Rivers (c. 1648–1651). Bernini came
back into papal favor and was commissioned
by the pope for this fountain. An aerial view of the Piazza Navona reveals
the original shape of the Roman arena which became the piazza, the Palace
Pamphilj, the Church of Sant’Agnese, the Fountain of the Four Rivers, and
two other fountains.The largest element of the Fountain of the Four Rivers is a Roman obelisk
with the dove of the Holy Spirit on top, also symbolizing the Pamphilj family.
The fountain represents the four great rivers of the world—Danube, Nile,
Rio de la Plata, and Ganges—and the symbolic rivers of Paradise. The last
bay of the Pamphilj Palace has a window where the pope appeared when he
was home; another window was the pope’s bedroom. Consider the symbolic
impact of this piazza in Counter-Reformation Rome: an ancient Roman
arena, the papal palace, an adjoining church with early Christian relics, the
Fountain of the Four Rivers of the world and of Paradise.The largest element
of the Fountain of
the Four Rivers is
a Roman obelisk
with the dove of the
Holy Spirit on top,
also symbolizing the
Pamphilj family.