Plate 6: Jacob Wrestling with the Angel, from Genesis 32, after a lost fresco in the basamento of Bay 6 of the Vatican Loggia 1650 - 1677

This print by Pietro Santi Bartoli, made in Italy around the late 17th century, depicts Jacob wrestling with an angel, drawing from the biblical story in Genesis. As an engraving, this work exists at a remove from its subject, which was originally a fresco in the Vatican Loggia. Bartoli’s print belongs to a larger project of documentation. This relates to the broader cultural and institutional context of the time, where the reproduction of artworks served multiple purposes. These ranged from disseminating knowledge of classical and Renaissance art to asserting the cultural authority of institutions like the Vatican. The print participates in the visual language of its time. This includes classical references, religious narratives, and the artistic conventions developed during the Renaissance. By re-presenting a fresco from the Vatican, the engraving underscores the importance of these institutions in shaping artistic production and reception. To better understand this print, we need to consider the social conditions that shaped artistic production. We can investigate the role of institutions, and the complex interplay between art, religion, and cultural authority.