Christus legt de schrift uit aan Maria en Jozef 1620 - 1664

Stefano della Bella created this etching, titled "Christ expounding the Scriptures to Mary and Joseph", in the 17th century. The image reflects the intense engagement with religious subjects that characterized much of the art produced across Europe at the time. Della Bella was Italian, and Italy remained one of the powerhouses of Catholic belief, even as the Protestant Reformation swept through Northern Europe. This print should be understood in that context. It reflects the Counter-Reformation's emphasis on art’s instructive role, showing Christ teaching his parents about the scriptures. We see God the Father looking down from the heavens, alongside the Holy Spirit, blessing the young Christ and legitimizing his teachings. To understand this work better, we can investigate not only the religious history of the 17th century, but also the institutional history of art, and the role that prints played in disseminating particular kinds of knowledge.