How did Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Roman Catholic faith shape his religious art?

Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s fervent Roman Catholicism was a fundamental force in his artistic career, deeply influencing both his personal life—he attended mass daily and took communion twice weekly—and his professional output.1

His approach to religious art was guided by the principles of the Council of Trent, which held that art should serve to teach, inspire the faithful, and act as propaganda for the Roman Catholic Church. Bernini conscientiously sought to ensure his work was intelligible, realistic, and, above all, an emotional stimulus to piety.1

To achieve these goals, Bernini pioneered a "Baroque" style that integrated architecture, painting, and sculpture to create overwhelming sensory experiences that bypassed intellectual resistance. His masterpiece, The Ecstasy of St. Teresa, exemplifies this by using hidden light sources and dramatic staging to immerse the worshiper in a mystical religious drama. Similarly, his work on the Cathedra Petri in St. Peter’s Basilica was designed to provide a meaningful, awe-inspiring goal for the pilgrim’s journey.23