spanish mystic saint teresa of avila, which bernini created about 1650 in the church of santa maria della vittorian rome. our eyes are met by those of the cardinal patron who looks out from among his ancestors and accompanies the visitor down the nave to view the chapel from the center of the crossing. there we are confronted with a spectacle of truly cosmic proportions. in the pavement before the altar, gesticulating skeletons rise from the lower depths to face their maker at the end of time. the vault of the chapel has scenes from teresa's life. bernini makes a chorus of winged, cloud-borne angels-- singing, playing instruments, and strewing flowers-- seem to filter through the solid vault, filling the chapel with their fragrant hymns ofraise d celebration. at the sides, the members of the cornaro family appear in balconies with architectural backgrounds whose perspectives merge with that of the church. their space becomes indistinguishable from ours. they consider, study, discuss, describe, indicate, and thereby bear witness to a mysterious event in which they participate, encouraging us to joi