Ein junger Mann vor einem Altar oder einer Kanzel kniend (Die Taufe des Heiligen Augustinus_) 

Gaspare Diziani made this sketch of a young man kneeling before an altar or pulpit, depicting the baptism of Saint Augustine. This work is from 18th century Venice, where religious institutions played a huge role in public life. Religious events would involve elaborate art and design, all serving to enhance the authority of the Church. In this drawing, Diziani suggests that the Church has the power to bring people together, with various spectators gathered around the central baptism. The artist was part of the Venetian painters' guild. Guilds like this one were powerful organizations at the time, which sought to protect the interests of artists through quality control and professional standards. To learn more about this drawing, you might consider researching the history of the Catholic Church in Venice and the role of guilds in Venetian art. The meaning of art is always tied to the social and institutional context in which it was made.