POPRADO
PEATONAL, TURÍSTICO Y CULTURAL
PI.ORIENTE

[Portrait of Marcela de San Félix]

Sor Marcela de San Félix

Marcela Lope de Vega y Luján, también conocida por Marcela del Carpio (Toledo 1605 - Madrid 1687), poetisa, actriz y dramaturga, fue hija ilegitima de Lope de Vega y de la actriz cómica Micaela de Luján (Camila Lucinda en los versos de Lope). A los 4 años, vino con su familia a Madrid y vivió en la calle del Infante hasta los 10 años en que se muda a la calle de Francos, hoy Cervantes. En 1622 ingresó en el convento de San Ildefonso de Trinitarias Descalzas de la calle Cantarranas, hoy Lope de Vega, y aquí vivió hasta los 82 años como monja de clausura. Lope describe con gran ternura los votos religiosos de su hija en la Epístola a Francisco de Herrera. Fue célebre la detención del cortejo funebre de Lope ante las rejas de clausura del convento para que Marcela pudiera despedir el cuerpo de su padre. En el convento llegó a desempeñar los oficios de maestra de novicias provisora gallinera refitolera y priora de la comunidad. Su abandono del mundo significo no solo consagrarse a Dios, sino tambien cultivar su talento literario. Su obra se compone de seis Coloquios Espirituales, ocho Loas, ventidos Romances, cinco Romances en esdrújulos y otras composiciones: seguidillas, liras jaculatorias, endechas y villancicos.

Todo cuanto el mundo ofrece
en sus vanas esperanzas
apenas son apariencias
pues, al comenzar acaban

MINISTERIO DE FOMENTO
Comunidad de Madrid

One of the signs placed in Madrid as part of the "Prado Museum-Palacio de Oriente Tourist and Cultural Pedestrian Axis", a collaboration between the City of Madrid and the Ministry of Public Works. The project won the 2003 Europa Nostra Prize for Urban Planning for Heritage Conservation.

The sign commemorates the nun Marcela de San Félix (1605-1688) who, in addition to her teaching career, was also a poet and actress.

The place where the sign is placed was photographed on the same day Click for a larger image

Translation of the text on the sign:
PEDESTRIAN, TOURIST, AND CULTURAL STREET
PI.ORIENTE

[Portrait of Marcela de San Félix]

Sister Marcela de San Félix

Marcela Lope de Vega y Luján, also known as Marcela del Carpio (Toledo 1605 - Madrid 1687), poet, actress, and playwright, was the illegitimate daughter of Lope de Vega and the comic actress Micaela de Luján (Camila Lucinda in Lope’s poems). At the age of 4, she came with her family to Madrid and lived on Infante Street until she was 10, when she moved to Francos Street, now Cervantes Street. In 1622, she entered the convent of San Ildefonso of the Discalced Trinitarians on Cantarranas Street, now Lope de Vega Street, and lived there until she was 82 as a cloistered nun. Lope tenderly describes his daughter’s religious vows in his Epistle to Francisco de Herrera. The famous stoppage of Lope’s funeral procession before the convent’s gates so Marcela could bid farewell to her father’s body was well-known. At the convent, she served as a provisional novice mistress, a henhouse keeper, and prioress of the community. Her abandonment of the world meant not only consecrating herself to God but also cultivating her literary talent. Her work consists of six Spiritual Colloquies, eight Praises, twenty-two Romances, five Romances in proparoxytones, and other compositions: seguidillas, ejaculations, dirges, and carols.

All that the world offers
in its vain hopes
are merely appearances
because, once they begin, they end.

MINISTRY OF PUBLIC DEVELOPMENT
Community of Madrid