Vision of the Descent of Saint Emerentia at Mount Carmel

This painting depicts the moment when the angel appearing to the Carmelites foretells Mary’s Immaculate Conception. It shows a woman kneeling in prayer, identified as Saint Emerentia. Her name has also been painted on the gilt frame. Above the woman, to the left of the scene, an angel speaks the words “hec visio ista significat” (this is the meaning of the vision). A group of Carmelite monks contemplate the vision revealed by the angel, which is a representation of Christ’s maternal family tree. A fantastical branch protrudes from Saint Emerentia’s side, passing through Saint Anne and Mary to reach Jesus who, in a premonition of things to come, is carrying his own cross. The scene takes place on Mount Carmel, where the Order’s first convent—seen in the background—was founded. This religious order was one of the most enthusiastic proponents of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. The work was recently attributed to Maestro Johannes, based on the superb collection held in the Museum of Ávila.