This is a truly exceptional 18th century religious oil on canvas. It depicts ''The Ecstasy of Teresa'' and depicts St Teresa having a profound religious experience. Often regarded as a piece of Erotic religious art here is a description.This sculptural group portrays Teresa''s experience of religious ecstasy, as described in her autobiography, when an angel appeared before her with a golden spear: ''He appeared to me to be thrusting it at times into my heart, and... to leave me all on fire with a great love of God. The pain was so great, that it made me moan; and yet so surpassing was the sweetness of this excessive pain, that I could not wish to be rid of it. The soul is satisfied now with nothing less than God.'' [Note that Teresa expresses her intense desire for God in the language of erotic passion, an approach which is part of the long tradition of what is called ''bridal mysticism''.Whether you enjoy art for its meaning or is decorative appeal this certainly has both. Wit...