Filippo Neri drinkt uit een fles 1630 - 1641

Curator: Look at this print, “Filippo Neri drinkt uit een fles,” made sometime between 1630 and 1641. It’s an engraving, so just imagine the precision involved. Editor: Oh, the crisp lines do create a sense of order and stillness. But then, that bizarre drinking scene takes center stage—a figure tilting back what looks like an enormous glass bulb. The perspective is subtly skewed, giving everything a slightly theatrical, almost dreamlike feel. Curator: It does, doesn't it? Engravings like this often depicted historical or genre scenes, popular ways of teaching moral lessons at the time. Notice the city as background, so very baroque with it’s dramatic angles. It reminds us how thoroughly performance was intertwined with religious identity. Editor: Absolutely. I am fascinated by the halo, however subtle it might be here, above Filippo's head, it sets him apart. It speaks to the viewer's need to signify sacred status but is not quite the full symbol, leaving much to the viewer's imagination. The onlookers are fantastic as well: even the lounging man staring almost mockingly at Filippo seems engaged with this public display. The print holds a little bit of mockery along with veneration. Curator: Well, perhaps there is commentary here. It shows us how such overt displays of piety could be read in different ways. The artist invites us, doesn't he, to bring our own questions about what is truly sacred and meaningful, just as people would’ve two centuries before. Editor: Precisely. "Filippo Neri drinkt uit een fles" is more than a historical record. It’s a mirror reflecting humanity’s enduring quest to create signs and discover profound value, however ironic that sign-making may prove in retrospect. Curator: Thank you, It makes one wonder about our modern day public spectacles... It is all terribly thought provoking and engaging.