Artwork
St Theresa receiving a gold chain and a mantle embroidered with gold from the Virgin
St Theresa receiving a gold chain and a mantle embroidered with gold from the Virgin is an oil painting by the Flemish Baroque painting artist Gaspar de Crayer. It dates from 1639 and is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
About this work
Technique & Style
Executed in 1639 by Gaspar de Crayer, this religious painting utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support.
Executed in 1639 by Gaspar de Crayer, this religious painting utilizes oil paint applied to a canvas support. The work is characterized by its monumental scale, measuring 320 cm in height and 226 cm in width. As a large-format oil on canvas, the piece demonstrates the artist's engagement with the grand devotional imagery typical of the period, depicting Saint Teresa of Ávila receiving sacred vestments.
The composition focuses on the interaction between the saint and the Virgin Mary, rendered through the fluid capabilities of the oil medium which allows for the detailed portrayal of the gold-embroidered mantle and chain central to the narrative.
History & Provenance
The painting was created in 1639 by Gaspar de Crayer, executed in oil paint on canvas. Its dimensions of 320 cm in height and 226 cm in width indicate a substantial altarpiece-scale work. The work is held in the collection of the Kunsthistorisches Museum, where it remains located.
No details regarding the original commission, patron, or subsequent ownership transfers prior to its acquisition by the museum are documented in the available sources.
Overview
This 1639 oil painting by Gaspar de Crayer depicts a scene involving Saint Teresa of Ávila, a Spanish mystic. It is a representative work of the Flemish Baroque style and is held in the Kunsthistorisches Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The painting shows Saint Teresa receiving a gold chain and an embroidered mantle from the Virgin Mary, symbolizing a significant moment in her spiritual life. The scene is populated by angels and cherubs, emphasizing its heavenly context.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gaspar de Crayer or Jasper de Crayer (18 November 1584 – 27 January 1669) was a Flemish painter known for his many Counter-Reformation altarpieces and portraits.
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