St Teresa of Avila in Ecstasy
1620
oil
copper
From the collection of Ashmolean Museum
1620
oil
copper
From the collection of Ashmolean Museum
St Teresa of Avila in Ecstasy is a 1620 oil by Unknown, a Early Baroque Italian work, held at Ashmolean Museum.
This painting depicts a woman in a brown robe with a white veil, seated with her head tilted back and eyes closed. Two angels flank her, one holding an arrow and the other a heart. The scene is set against a dark background, with a table and a white cloth on the left side. The woman's expression conveys a sense of ecstasy, and the angels' presence adds a sense of reverence to the scene. The use of dark colors and the dramatic lighting create a sense of intensity and emotion. The painting's use of chiaroscuro creates a striking contrast between light and dark, drawing the viewer's attention to the central figure.
