Sacred and Profane Entanglements: Religion, Sexuality, and the Body in Baroque Art, Poetry, and Religious Mysticism (1580–1700)

Dr. Sofia Bennett, Dr. Julian Hartwell

Department of Religious Studies and Theology, Savitribai Phule Pune University

1. Abstract

The Baroque era (approximately 1580–1700) stands out as a particularly vibrant and contradictory chapter in European cultural history, where the sacred and the secular became deeply intertwined in artistic, poetic, and mystical forms. Following the Catholic Reformation and the Council of Trent, Baroque art aimed to provoke strong emotional reactions, create a sense of immediacy, and achieve spiritual elevation. However, this artistic style often incorporated eroticized figures, sensual imagery, and emotional aesthetics that blurred the lines between spiritual ecstasy and physical desire. This research article delves into the complex relationship between religion, sexuality, and the body in Baroque art, poetry, and mystical literature from 1580 to 1700, positing that the era’s aesthetic and theological constructs did not simply place sacred and profane elements side by side but intentionally merged them to create novel forms of devotional experience. Utilizing an interdisciplinary approach that includes art history, literary studies, theology, and cultural theory, the article examines significant artistic creations (especially those by Gian Lorenzo Bernini), mystical texts (notably by Teresa of Ávila and John of the Cross), and Baroque poetry. It reveals that Baroque culture reimagined the human body as a site of both spiritual transcendence and erotic intensity, turning sensuality into a means for divine connection. The study also investigates how this intertwining mirrors broader early modern concerns about discipline, desire, and religious authority during the Counter-Reformation. By incorporating theoretical insights on affect, embodiment, and mysticism, the article concludes that Baroque culture viewed sexuality and spirituality not as opposing forces but as interconnected elements capable of producing profound devotional and aesthetic experiences.

2. Keywords

Baroque; Counter-Reformation; Mysticism; Sacred Eroticism; Body; Teresa of Ávila; Bernini; Religious Poetry; Embodiment; Sexuality; Aesthetics; Early Modern Europe.