Heilige Clara 1610 - 1672

Michael Snijders created this print, Heilige Clara, or Saint Clare, in the 17th-century Netherlands. It's a devotional image, meant to inspire piety, but it also tells us about the social role of religious figures and the institutions that promoted their veneration. Clare of Assisi, who lived in the 13th century, was the founder of the Order of Poor Ladies, a monastic order for women in the Franciscan tradition. Snijders depicts her with a monstrance, a vessel used to display the Eucharist, as well as a rosary, a string of beads used to count prayers. He also alludes to the story of her life by including a depiction of the church in Assisi, in Umbria, Italy where she lived. Prints like this one played a key role in spreading religious ideas and promoting the cult of saints. By studying the imagery and symbolism, and researching the historical context, we can gain insight into the social and cultural values of the time.