The Virgin vesting saint Ildephonsus

In this painting the close relation between Saint Ildephonsus (607-667) and the Virgin Mary stands out. This saint from Toledo, who served as archbishop of his hometown, was appointed as Father of the Church, and stood out for his work as a writer of texts in which he addressed doctrinal issues and, especially, matters concerning the figure of Mary and the defense of her virginity.

As a reward for his faithfulness, it is said that the Virgin appeared before saint Ildephonsus on December 17^th, 665 and named him as her chaplain.

The “miraculous” apparition can be appreciated in this painting attributed to Gregorio Vásquez de Arce y Ceballos, in which the saint humbly bends before Mary, from whom he is about to receive a golden chasuble.

To the right of the image, three angels that assist the Virgin to vest the saint with bishop attributes stand out.

Behind the Virgin and staring at the viewer, we find Saint Catherine of Alexandria, recognizable by the palm of martyrdom and the cogwheel.

In the lower left corner, a kneeling woman holds a lit candle. This character, who is not present in the original story of the miracle, emerged in the French theater of the 14^th century and was introduced to Spanish religious iconography in the 16^thcentury.

According to the baroque writer José de Valdivieso, this woman, known as Ana de Mendo, was praying in the church at the time of the Virgin's apparition. An angel gave her a candle on the condition to return it, however, the woman asked to be allowed to keep it as a guide at the time of her death.