We come across a work by Pedro de Mena, one of the best sculptors of the Andalusian Baroque school. This sculpture was made between 1663 and 1673, and soon became one of the most notable and repeated iconographic representations of the Granada.

Saint Peter of Alcántara - from the 16th century - was the reformer of the Franciscan order and the spiritual father of Saint Teresa of Jesus. He had a simple and devout life, dedicated to prayer and meditation, two particularities that Mena was able to accurately translate in this sculpture.

The works of this artist are characterized by the fact that his saints express mysticism with their gaze fixed on the heights accompanied by gestures of repentance or praise. This sculpture shows the intense moment of contemplative ecstasy. Although the face is emaciated, the eyes sunken and the neck wrinkled, the expressive force is so great that we forget the worn-out physical condition of the saint. The habit carved with realism is a sample of his good technique and his refined aesthetic taste. The rusticity and deterioration of the clothes is achieved thanks to the polychromy done with the tip of a brush.

Pedro de Mena embodied the religiosity of 17th century Spain in his works, which led to him receiving commissions from both the church and civil society.