SANTA TERESA OF AVILA

anta Teresa (1515-1582) was a Spanish Carmelite nun who founded the strictly disciplined order of the Carmelites known as the Descalzos, or the Barefoot. She was a mystic who also championed the integrity and intellect of women. She wears the traditional Carmelite habit of brown robe, black veil, and white mantle. The book she carries represents her important contributions to religious literature.

This beautiful statue is an excellent example of the accomplishments of Spanish colonial carvers. The realistic face and hands are painted in a multilayered technique known as encarnación (“making flesh”). The robes are re-created in a technique known as estofado, in which the statue is gilded and then covered with colored paint. The final surface is then incised to reveal the gold leaf below, creating an impression of embroidery and patterned fabric.