Ontmoeting tussen de Heilige Bruno en Comte Roger 1623 - 1676

François Chauveau made this print, "Ontmoeting tussen de Heilige Bruno en Comte Roger," using etching in the 17th-century Netherlands. The image depicts Saint Bruno encountering Count Roger in a secluded, natural setting, an allegory for the importance of spiritual contemplation over worldly pursuits. Prints like this one were typically commissioned by religious orders, and circulated among members of the Catholic Church in France and the Netherlands. Chauveau used visual codes such as the forest backdrop, connoting the importance of nature and spirituality. This was a common theme in the 17th century, when there was a progressive desire to understand the nature of the individual and their role in the world. To understand the piece, the historian might research the lives of Saint Bruno and Count Roger and the cultural context of 17th-century religious thought. Ultimately, the meaning of Chauveau's print is contingent on its social and institutional context.