Twee monstransen en een doopvont met een voorstelling van de doop van Christus in de Jordaan 1817

Pietro Ruga made this drawing of two monstrances and a baptismal font with a depiction of the baptism of Christ in the Jordan. The image presents a blend of religious symbolism and neoclassical aesthetics, common in late 18th or early 19th century Europe. The centrality of the baptism scene emphasizes the Catholic Church's focus on sacraments, but the clean lines and idealized figures reflect the influence of Enlightenment rationalism and its reverence for classical antiquity. The drawing also serves as a historical document reflecting the institutional history of art. It is likely that the artist produced this for a patron within the Catholic church, or perhaps as part of a submission to an academy. What can art do to challenge existing social norms? It would be interesting to study the records of the Catholic church during this time.