Large Antique Spanish Colonial Carved Polychrome Wood Santo Altar Sculpture

A most impressive antique Spanish Colonial carved polychromed wooden Santo Catholic church altar figure. circa 1800

Hand-crafted in the late 18th / early 19th century, exceptionally executed intricate detailing, the large scale antique religious sculpture depicting the female Saint Teresa of Avila, polychrome painted gesso over finely sculpted wood, inset glass eyes, shown in Carmelite nun habit with removable crown, holding an open book, standing on a likely later removable octagonal molded wood plinth base stand.

Dimensions: (approx)
19.5″ High, 7.75″ Wide, 7.5″ Deep; 4.5lbs

History:
Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582), given name Teresa Ali Fatima Corella Sanchez de Capeda y Ahumada, also called Saint Teresa of Jesus, was born in Avila, Spain / Crown of Castile / Iberian Peninsula in 1515.

She was a Carmelite nun and prominent Spanish mystic and religious reformer. Active during the Counter-Reformation, Teresa became the central figure of a movement of spiritual and monastic renewal, reforming the Carmelite Orders of both women and men. The movement was later joined by the younger Carmelite friar and mystic John of the Cross, with whom she established the Discalced Carmelites. A formal papal decree adopting the split from the old order was issued in 1580.

Her autobiography, The Life of Teresa of Jesus, and her books The Interior Castle, and The Way of Perfection, are prominent works on Christian mysticism and Christian meditation practice. In her autobiography, written as a defense of her ecstatic mystical experiences, she discerns four stages in the ascent of the soul to God: mental prayer and meditation; the prayer of quiet; absorption-in-God; ecstatic consciousness. The Interior Castle, written as a spiritual guide for her Carmelite sisters, uses the illustration of seven mansions within the castle of our soul to describe the different states our soul can be in during our life.

Forty years after her death, in 1622, Teresa was canonized and named a Saint by Pope Gregory XV.

On 27 September 1970 Pope Paul VI proclaimed Teresa the first female Doctor of the Church in recognition of her writing and teaching on prayer, and centuries-long spiritual legacy to Catholicism.

She is the patron saint against headaches, against sickness, for lace makers and the patroness of Spain. Her Feast Day is celebrated on Oct. 15.

Some Inspiration:
The following quotes are only a few of the many inspirational writings from Saint Teresa of Avila:

Let nothing perturb you, nothing frighten you. All things pass.

Christ is no stranger to suffering and loss, let us turn to him with our questions and our prayers, praying always “Jesus, we trust in you.”

May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be.

May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith.

May you be content knowing you are a child of God. Let this presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of us.

Reflect upon the providence and wisdom of God in all created things and praise (God) in them all.

The feeling remains that God is on the journey, too.

Christ has no body now, but yours. No hands, no feet on earth, but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ looks compassion into the world. Yours are the feet with which Christ walks to do good. Yours are the hands with which Christ blesses the world.

May God protect me from gloomy saints.

Condition Report:
A rare museum quality example, in great original unrestored antique condition with beautifully aged warm rustic distressed patina over the whole. Retaining original antique character and charm throughout, including scattered chippy paint wood and finger losses, evidence of restoration to arm, likely later matched pedestal, all wear consistent with age and use. Overall a superb example