Santa Maria della Vittoria is a baroque church in Rome, located in Via XX Settembre. The chapels, surrounded by arches decorated with marble, angels and cherubs, are separated by pillars with gilded Corinthian capitals. The noble families who wished to do so were granted patronage over the chapels, on the condition that each family provided for their rich decoration, to conform to the style of the church. The result was the creation of magnificent caskets of art.
Among these is the one belonging to the family of Cardinal Federico Cornaro, commissioned to the great sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini, who gave it the famous sculpture group depicting the Ecstasy of St. Teresa of Avila. The sculpture, in marble and gilded bronze, was executed between 1647 and 1652, and represents a moment in the life of Saint Teresa of Avila. In her autobiography, the Saint recounts the vivid vision of an Angel who pierced her heart with a golden arrow, causing her immense joy but, at the same time, great pain.
Still today, the work enchants the faithful and visitors for the scenic construction that sees the saint suspended in the middle of a white and soft cloud. At the sides of the sculpture, the members of the family that owns the chapel observe the scene comfortably seated inside noble boxes as if they were in a theatre.
