Saint Teresa of Ávila Interceding for Souls in Purgatory 

Peter Paul Rubens's "Saint Teresa of Ávila Interceding for Souls in Purgatory" is a dramatic depiction of the Catholic belief in purgatory. Saint Teresa, a prominent figure in the Carmelite order, kneels before Jesus Christ, who stands with his back to the viewer. Below them, several souls in purgatory writhe in flames, desperately reaching up towards Saint Teresa and Christ. This vivid imagery, characteristic of Rubens's Baroque style, emphasizes the power of intercession and the importance of prayer in achieving salvation.