Holy Family with Saint Bernard and Saint Philip Benozzi 1733

Curator: This is Carlo Orsolini's "Holy Family with Saint Bernard and Saint Philip Benozzi." Orsolini was active in the 18th century. Editor: It has this dreamlike quality, like a devotional vision. The Holy Family almost floats, while the saints below are so anchored to earthly concerns. Curator: The print medium allowed images like this to circulate widely, reinforcing devotion to specific saints and showcasing the ideals of the Holy Family. Editor: The angels feel quite theatrical, almost like stage props. Are they beckoning the viewer upward, or simply framing the main players? Curator: They're really mediating between the earthly and divine realms, connecting the worshippers, the saints, with the Holy Family above. Editor: It feels very much of its time; that late Baroque exuberance is quite palpable. Curator: Right, the Church's promotion of itself as the guardian of divine power is on full display. Editor: I find a quiet drama here; something about the upward gaze. It's a powerful reminder of art's capacity to inspire reverence.