H. Norbertus 1634

This engraving of H. Norbertus was made by Lucas Vorsterman I in the 17th century. We see the saint framed in an elaborate cartouche. Images such as this one are often commissioned by religious orders to promote their saints and their institutions. Here, Norbert of Xanten is presented as the founder of the Premonstratensian order. Vorsterman was active in Antwerp, a city that served as a stronghold of the Counter-Reformation. That was a movement aimed at reaffirming the doctrines of the Catholic Church. We can see that the image attempts to shore up the authority of the Church. The image includes references to transubstantiation and to victory over the devil, important elements of Counter-Reformist ideology. To understand this print fully, one could consult records of Vorsterman's studio, the archives of the Premonstratensian order, and theological tracts from the period. Through archival research, the historian can place this work within its original institutional and intellectual context.