St. Teresa with Child Jesus 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this print, St. Teresa with Child Jesus, sometime in the 18th century. As an Italian artist working during the Enlightenment, Piranesi engaged with the era's shifting views on religion and knowledge. The print depicts Saint Teresa of Ávila, a mystic, kneeling in devotion while cradling the infant Jesus, surrounded by angels. Teresa, a woman of deep faith, faced significant challenges navigating the patriarchal structures of the Catholic Church. She founded her own convents, advocating for a more personal and direct relationship with God, challenging conventional religious authority. Consider how Piranesi's depiction captures the intense emotion and personal connection at the heart of Teresa's spiritual practice. The ethereal quality of the etching, with its swirling clouds and angelic figures, seems to invite viewers to contemplate the intersections of faith, gender, and power. It offers an intimate glimpse into the saint’s experience, while gently reflecting broader societal questions about female agency and spirituality.