The Transverberation of St TeresaGaspar de Figueroa

This Andalusian-style painting (c. 1650) shows St Teresa of Ávila in divine ecstasy as an angel pierces her heart with a flaming arrow, echoing the mystical vision she described in her writings. Her rigid body and upturned gaze contrast with the angel’s gentle embrace, emphasizing both pain and surrender. The scene visualizes Counter-Reformation ideals, presenting Teresa’s inner experience as a model of contemplative intensity.