Filippo Neri zweeft boven de vloer tijdens het bidden 1630 - 1641

Luca Ciamberlano created this engraving, “Filippo Neri zweeft boven de vloer tijdens het bidden”, or “Filippo Neri hovers above the floor while praying”, sometime between 1599 and 1641. This is Italian art from the Counter-Reformation, a time when the Catholic Church was trying to shore up its authority against the rising tide of Protestantism. The image illustrates a miracle associated with Filippo Neri, who was known for his piety and charity, hovering in prayer, bathed in divine light. Such images played a crucial role in promoting the idea of saints and miracles, central to Catholic belief, countering Protestant criticisms. By visually representing Neri's spiritual ecstasy, Ciamberlano reinforced the Church's claim to divine favor and its power to intercede on behalf of believers. To truly understand this work, we can consult hagiographies, theological treatises, and records of the institutions that supported Counter-Reformation art. These sources help to understand the interplay between religious belief, artistic production, and social control.