Heilige Ambrosius 1648

Christoffel van Sichem II created this woodcut of Heilige Ambrosius, or Saint Ambrose, sometime in the 17th century. The print depicts Ambrose, a 4th-century bishop of Milan, who is remembered for his influence on early Christian theology and his role in converting Augustine of Hippo. During the 16th and 17th centuries, religious imagery played a crucial role amidst the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, as the visual arts became tools for expressing and reinforcing religious identities and beliefs. Sichem, working in this environment, likely intended this print to serve as a didactic tool, reinforcing the authority and sanctity of the Catholic Church through the veneration of its saints. We see Ambrose, adorned in elaborate ecclesiastical garments and holding a staff, symbols of his spiritual authority and status. In the background, a pyramid-like structure is surrounded by a swarm of bees, a well-known symbol associated with Ambrose, alluding to his eloquence and wisdom as a "honey-tongued" preacher. The artist emphasizes Ambrose's identity as a pillar of the Church, inviting viewers to reflect on faith, authority, and the legacies of religious figures.