Saint Rosalie Interceding for the Plague-stricken of Palermo 1624

Anthony van Dyck painted 'Saint Rosalie Interceding for the Plague-stricken of Palermo' sometime in the 17th century. Van Dyck’s image is an example of the Counter-Reformation use of art to re-establish the Catholic Church’s authority. Here, we see Saint Rosalie, a local Sicilian saint, ascending to heaven amidst a flurry of cherubic figures. In her moment of glory, she looks upward, beseeching divine intervention for the plague-ridden city of Palermo. The dark figures below represent those who have been afflicted by the plague and Rosalie’s ascension signifies hope. Van Dyck was one of many artists commissioned by the Catholic Church. We know from historical sources that the plague ravaged Europe at this time, weakening populations and challenging religious institutions. Art historians research this history to analyze the ways in which art shapes beliefs and attempts to order society.