Spanish sculptor, born in Adra. He was a pupil of his father as well as of Alonzo Cano. His first conspicuous success was achieved in work for the convent El Angel at Granada, including figures of St. Joseph, St. Antony of Padua, St. Diego, St. Pedro Meántara, St. Franciscus and Santa Clara. In 1658 he signed a contract for sculptural work on the choir stalls of the cathedral at Malaga—this work extending over four years. Other works are, statues of the Madonna and child and of St. Joseph in Madrid, the polychromatic figures in the church of St. Isodoro, the Magdalena and the Gertrudis in the church of St. Martin (Madrid), the crucifixion in the Nuestra Señora de Gracia (Madrid), the statuette of St. Francis of Assisi in Toledo, and of St. Joseph in the St. Nicholas church in Murcia. Between 1673 and 1679 Mena worked at Cordova. About 1680 he was in Granada, where he executed a half-length Madonna and child (seated) for St. Dominicos. Mena died in Malaga. He and Mora may be regarded as artistic descendants of Montañés and Alonzo Cano, but in technical skill and the expression of religious motive his statues are unsurpassed in the sculpture of Spain. His feeling for the nude was remarkable. Like his immediate predecessors he excelled in the portrayal of contemplative figures and scenes; Mena’s drawing of Santiago leaping upon his charger is good, and the carving admirable, but the necessary movement for so spirited an action is lacking.
See B. Haendeke, Studien zur Geschichte der spanischen Plastik (Strassburg, 1900).
