The church of Santa Maria della Vittoria is famous and mostly visited for the Cornaro family chapel that was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini; its altar displays the sculptural group called the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa.
Inspired by the autobiographical narrative of the Spanish saint, Bernini offers a true Baroque masterpiece here, where painting, sculpture, and architecture blend together and create spectacular results.
This sculptural group kept the artist busy for four years, up to 1651, and is the fulcrum of a highly theatrical scene. Bernini took care to create a niche in the back wall for the altar, and positioned a window behind the triangular pediment of the monument so that light poured over it from above, mixing with the sculpture's golden bronze reflections.
It is a magical spectacle and a proud affirmation of his full and vital creative effort which makes the saint seem to be mystically suspended in mid-air. The white block of marble has been worked with sensual softness, simulating a dense cloud for the unconscious saint to lay on, while her face expresses pain and sensuality and conveys an unforgettable experience. A smiling angel pushes a golden arrow towards the chest of the saint, bringing the scene's emotion to a climax. In the vault, a divine dove flies towards the window, through the clouds flooding the chapel.
