Artwork
Santa Teresa de Jesús
Santa Teresa de Jesús is an oil painting by the Post-Impressionist artist Miguel Jadraque y Sánchez. It dates from 1892 and is held in the collection of the Museo del Prado.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The iconography centers on the saint seated at a table, surrounded by specific attributes that define her identity as a writer and mystic.
Painted in 1882 by Miguel Jadraque y Sánchez, this work portrays Santa Teresa de Jesús within a contemplative setting. The iconography centers on the saint seated at a table, surrounded by specific attributes that define her identity as a writer and mystic. A pen and book are prominently displayed, referencing her extensive literary contributions and role as a Doctor of the Church.
Additionally, the presence of a crucifix underscores her deep religious devotion and the spiritual focus of her life. These elements combined, the writing implements alongside the religious symbol, create a visual narrative that represents Teresa not only as a holy figure but also as an intellectual force within the Catholic tradition.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, a standard support for late nineteenth-century Spanish portraiture. Its modest dimensions, 72 cm in height by 60 cm in width, situate it within an intimate cabinet-picture format suited to devotional subjects.
Stylistically, the composition is anchored by a tightly arranged group of attributes: a book, a writing table, a seat, a pen, and a crucifix. These objects function as iconographic identifiers rather than as descriptive setting, and their careful, restrained handling is consistent with the sober, devotional mode typical of religious portraits of the period. The limited scale and the emphasis on emblematic still-life elements over environmental detail suggest a controlled, academic execution rather than a broadly painterly one.
History & Provenance
The work was painted by Miguel Jadraque y Sánchez in 1882, as indicated by the artist’s date and the Wikidata record of its inception year.
The painting entered the collection of the Museo del Prado, where it remains located according to the museum’s holdings.
Overview
Miguel Jadraque y Sánchez’s 1892 oil on canvas, titled Santa Teresa de Jesús, portrays the mystic saint in a moment of prayer. The composition centers on the saint seated before a modest table, illuminated by a warm, directional light that emphasizes her contemplative pose.
Context
Created during a period of renewed interest in Spain’s Catholic heritage, the work aligns with contemporary efforts to visually celebrate national saints. Jadraque’s depiction echoes earlier Baroque representations while incorporating the softer tonalities of late‑19th‑century realism.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Miguel Jadraque y Sánchez (1840–1919) was an artist, born in Valladolid.
- Santa Teresa de Jesús
The crucified Christ appears to Saint Teresa of Avila
Saint Teresa of Avila
Saint Clara
La infanta sor Margarita de la Cruz, archiduquesa de Austria
The crucified Christ appears to Saint Teresa
Saint Teresa of Ávila Contemplating the Cross
Heilige Catharina van Siena in extase
Santa Clara
San Pedro de Alcántara confesando a Santa Teresa
Saint Teresa of Ávila
Santa Rosa de Lima