Final answer:
The true statement about the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa is that it is illuminated by rays of light from a hidden window, shining onto gilded bronze bars behind the sculpture. The work, carved from white marble by Gian Lorenzo Bernini, is an embodiment of Saint Teresa's vision of divine love and is part of a theatrical installation in the Cornaro Chapel.
Step-by-step explanation:
The true statement about the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa is that the sculpture is illuminated by rays of light carried onto it by gilded bronze bars. Specifically, the Ecstasy of Saint Teresa, created by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and located in the Cornaro Chapel of Santa Maria della Vittoria in Rome, includes several exquisite features. Bernini masterfully carved the sculpture out of white marble, creating a figure of Saint Teresa that appears to floating on a cloud of stone. Additionally, he ingeniously placed long-gilded streams of gold behind the saint, which are lit by a hidden window, simulating divine light from the heavens.
The sculpture represents Saint Teresa's vision, in which she describes an angel with a fiery arrow piercing her heart, symbolizing the intense love of God. Bernini's use of light creates a remarkable play of light and shadow on the sculpture's surfaces, enhancing its dramatic effect and the entire theatrical setup of the chapel. Moreover, the installation includes marble figures of the Cornaro family in opera boxes, who seem to be spectators of the saint's vision, further adding to the scene's immersive experience.