Saint Francesca Romana Giving Alms 1675

Giovanni Battista Gaulli painted “Saint Francesca Romana Giving Alms” in the late 17th century, during the Roman Baroque. It depicts a Roman noblewoman who devoted her life to charitable work. Painted during a period of immense social stratification, this canvas is an interesting artifact from the Catholic Counter-Reformation. Note how Gaulli carefully constructs Francesca Romana as both pious and wealthy. Her fine garments and the book she carries denote her class, while the halo and act of service denote her piety. She is not merely generous but saintly, legitimizing the Church’s concern for the poor. In the background, the architectural structure further signals Francesca’s Roman identity. As art historians, we might consider this painting as a symbol of Rome’s efforts to maintain its authority through religious doctrine and how art served as propaganda for the Church, particularly among the noble classes.