Saint Theresa Interceding for the Souls in Purgatory - Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert

A masterful seventeenth-century engraving by Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert, depicting Saint Theresa of Avila interceding with Christ for the souls in purgatory.

This engraving by Schelte Adamsz. Bolswert depicts a theological scene where Saint Theresa of Avila petitions Christ on behalf of souls suffering in purgatory. Bolswert, a master of the burin, was frequently employed to translate the dynamic compositions of Peter Paul Rubens into print. The work displays the characteristic energy of the Flemish Baroque, utilising dramatic contrasts of light and shadow to guide the viewer through the narrative.

In the upper register, Christ stands as the central figure, his posture relaxed yet authoritative, while Saint Theresa kneels to the left in a gesture of supplication. Above them, putti emerge from the clouds, adding a sense of celestial movement. The lower portion of the composition is occupied by the figures in purgatory, rendered with expressions of longing and physical distress amidst flames. The artist employs varied line weights and cross-hatching to define the musculature of the figures and the texture of the drapery, creating a sense of volume that is typical of the period's printmaking techniques.

Bolswert was instrumental in disseminating the style of the Antwerp school across Europe. His ability to replicate the painterly qualities of Rubens through the rigid medium of copperplate engraving is evident here. The composition balances the ethereal nature of the divine figures with the grounded, emotive reality of the souls below. The Latin inscription at the base provides context, referencing the intercession for the soul of Bernardino de Mendoza. This print serves as a fine example of the technical precision and dramatic storytelling that defined seventeenth-century religious print culture.