Liegende Nonne mit einem Engel (die Verzückung der Heiligen Theresa von Avila_) 

This red chalk drawing by Melchiorre Cafà depicts Saint Teresa of Ávila in a state of religious ecstasy, attended by an angel. Cafà, who was from Malta, produced this drawing in Rome in the mid-17th century, during the height of the Baroque period. It's a preparatory sketch, a common practice for artists of the time. The era’s artistic institutions, like the Accademia di San Luca in Rome, emphasized rigorous training through drawing. This sketch embodies the period's fascination with intense emotion and spiritual experience, reflecting the Catholic Church's efforts to inspire religious fervor. The Church was a major patron, commissioning artworks that aimed to stir the emotions of the faithful and reinforce religious doctrine, especially after the Protestant Reformation. Understanding this drawing requires considering both the artistic conventions of the time and the social context in which it was produced. Art historians often consult archival documents, religious texts, and contemporary accounts to fully understand the meaning and function of such works. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.