Lost in the city’s vibrant tapestry lies a tale of devotion. It’s a story woven around the now-vanished Convento de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles. This convent stood in Madrid. Its history is deeply intertwined with Doña Leonor de Mascareñas.
Doña Leonor was a remarkable woman. She served as the governess to King Felipe II. She also cared for his siblings Juana and María. Furthermore, she was the governess of Prince Don Carlos.
Her dedication earned her widespread respect. Doña Leonor had vowed chastity in her youth. This was for Felipe II’s recovery from an illness. She lived a life of profound piety.
Initially, Doña Leonor intended to establish a Jesuit school. However, King Felipe II offered her land in Santo Domingo. He also provided 3000 ducats. This was to build and endow a convent.
She chose the Franciscan order. Seven nuns were brought from the convent of Santa María de Jesús in Ávila. They would guide the new community.
The convent was inaugurated on December 7 1563. Doña Leonor did not join the order. Instead, she lived in a section of the convent. From there, she had direct access to the church. She also accessed the cloister.
Santa Teresa de Jesús stayed at the convent. This happened during her travels through Madrid in 1568 and 1569. The community was initially limited to twelve nuns. It could expand to twenty. The church’s construction concluded in 1586. The Bishop of Viseo consecrated it.
Doña Leonor passed away in 1584. Before that she bequeathed the convent’s patronage to Felipe II. She left it to his successors. So, although it wasn’t a royal foundation, the convent enjoyed certain privileges.
The convent’s architecture was simple. It housed an impressive art collection. This included the triptych of the Redemption from the Museo del Prado. There were also paintings by notable artists. Among them were the master of Don Álvaro de Luna, El Greco, Francisco Rizi and Francisco Pérez Sierra.
The nuns lived in peace until 1835. Then, the Mendizábal laws forced them to leave. They merged with the Clarisse community of the Concepción convent.
In 1838, the convent was demolished. This happened to expand the Plaza de Santo Domingo. New housing was constructed on Costanilla de los Ángeles.
Today, little remains of the Convento de Nuestra Señora de los Ángeles. Yet its legacy lives on. It’s a reminder of faith, art and royal history. It echos through Madrid’s streets. The convent is not forgotten.