Saint Teresa of Avila, Doctor of the Church, 1515-1582

The most famous image of St. Teresa is Bernini's sculpture of the ecstasy she described in her autobiography (detail at left, full image here).  Another less accomplished representation of the ecstasy is in the chapel of St. Teresa in Santa Maria della Scala, Rome, which contains one of the saint's feet.  The same chapel also has 18th century reliefs of her Ascension, her vision of Christ, and her Meditation under the guidance of the Virgin Mary.  The altarpiece in the chapel features a painting of St. Teresa by Francesco Mancini.

The account of the ecstasy is on p. 165 of the autobiography (cached).

The iconography in paintings of St. Teresa usually follows that of Rubens' image of her: the brown and white habit of Discalced Carmelites, a book, and a quill or quill pen.  Some images add a dove.

Feast day: October 15

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