Allegorie op de Kerkelijke Staat 1777

"Allegorie op de Kerkelijke Staat" (1777), an etching by Dutch artist Simon Fokke, is a complex allegorical composition. The central figure is a pope, crowned and holding a staff, seated on a pedestal and surrounded by symbolic objects. Angels fly above, representing the divine. The image conveys the power and influence of the Church, with a backdrop of a cityscape. The artwork is a powerful representation of the Catholic Church during the 18th century, emphasizing its influence on politics and society.