El Crucificado de SanJuan de la Cruz

Abstract

One of the most interesting and lesser known chapters in the life of St. John of the Cross (1572-1577) surrounds his depiction of the  Crucified Christ. Firstly, it all happened at the monastery of the Encarnación, the monastery in Avila where Teresa of Jesus made her  profession and lived. She thought this monastery was so important for her foundations, her real granary, that she did everything  possible to ensure that John would be the confessor, formation director and vicar for the nuns there. Secondly, it was at this time that  John was writing his spiritual doctrine, his mystical theology, that years later would come to a climax in Granada, with the Crucifixion as the paradigm of all his doctrine. Finally, something that is very important, this very unique drawing, that has inspired modern  artists of the likes of Dali, was saved miraculously, simply by ending up in the hands of an observant Carmelite, Sr. Ana Maria de Jesús.  If it had ended up with the Discalced sisters it would surely have disappeared in that dreadful persecution that John suffered in the last ear of his life.