Vita B. Virginis Teresiae 1613

Adriaen Collaert made this engraving, Vita B. Virginis Teresiae, sometime between 1590 and 1618. The image shows a key scene from the life of Saint Teresa of Ávila, a Spanish Carmelite nun. It captures the moment when Teresa and her brother Rodrigo set out, as children, towards Moorish territory, seeking martyrdom for their faith. The engraving creates meaning through its detailed depiction of the landscape and figures, reflecting the religious and social climate of the Spanish Counter-Reformation. The image idealizes religious devotion while also reflecting contemporary fears about territorial and religious boundaries. Collaert, working in Antwerp, would have understood the power of art to shape religious beliefs and practices. Understanding this image requires delving into the history of the Carmelite order, the socio-political context of 16th-century Spain, and the biography of Saint Teresa herself. By consulting historical texts, religious treatises, and biographical accounts, we can better appreciate the complex interplay of faith, politics, and artistic expression in this work.