Ecstasy of Saint Teresa
1813â18
Classification
figures
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Museum purchase through gift of various donors
Accession Number
1901-39-3548
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Felice Giani (1758–1823), a prominent Italian Neoclassical artist, crafted *Ecstasy of Saint Teresa* between 1813 and1818. Known for his elegant drawings, frescoes, and paintings inspired by classical antiquity and Raphael, Giani often blended historical themes with refined human figures. This work, classified simply as "figures," captures dramatic spiritual rapture of Saint Teresa of Á, the 16th-century mystic whose visions inspired countless artists. The title evokes Gian Lorenzo Bernini's famous 17th-century Baroque sculpture in Rome, but Giani's Neoclassical approach likely tempers that t...