Plate 11: Saint William of Aquitaine 1678

Giuseppe Maria Mitelli created this engraving of Saint William of Aquitaine in the 17th or 18th century, a period marked by religious and political upheaval. Mitelli, working in Bologna, situates his subject within a rigid social hierarchy, where religious figures preside over those in positions of military power. William's act of renouncing his military status is presented here as a performance enacted within the gaze of the church. His removal of armor and sword is an act of submission to religious authority, a theme resonant with the power dynamics of the era. The composition invites us to consider the tension between earthly power and spiritual devotion, and how individuals navigate these complex identities. By stepping away from his duties as a Duke, William relinquishes the violent power he has over his people to embrace a new kind of power in the church. What does it mean to give up one form of authority for another?