A friend and admirer of Bernini, as soon as he was elected Pope, Alexander VII (1655-1667) asked the great artist to prepare a small coffin for prayer his bedroom because, "I will be a good Pope if I think of death."

During the pontificate of Alexander VII Bernini designed and built the magnificent colonnade in St. Peter's Square, the bronze Cathedra, and the Royal stair, which along with the Baldachin represents the triumph of Baroque art in the Vatican. After the death of the pope Bernini, with his still rich imagination wanted to honor his memory with a great monument that is still admired by thousands every day.

The pope is portrayed kneeling in prayer that is interrupted by the appearance of Death, a gigantic skeleton coming out from under the funeral draping, brandishing an hourglass to show that time has come. Death is shown
with a covered face because it comes to all men, without distinction, even to Supreme Pontiff.

The monument is crowned by four statues of the virtues that distinguished the life of Alexander VII, that is Justice, Prudence, Charity and Truth. The last statue which also symbolizes Religion has a sorrowful expression because of the Pope's many vain attempts at resolving the difficult situation that had developed with the Anglican Church. The statue's left foot rests on a globe, and specifically right on England.

The monument is striking because of the different and beautiful types of marble used: the bases are black and white, the colors of mourning, the great funeral drape is made of Sicilian jasper, and the statue of the pope, atop a perfect pyramid is white marble.