Saint Dominic c. 1514

Lucas van Leyden made this engraving of Saint Dominic sometime in the early 16th century. Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order, is identifiable by his monk’s robes, the cross-topped staff, and the book. Dominic lived in the 12th and 13th centuries, and the order he founded was devoted to preaching and theological study. But what accounts for the saint's enduring appeal in the early 16th century Netherlands? For that, we might look to the rise of Protestantism and calls for reform within the Church. Here, the dog with the torch may represent the Dominicans, or "Domini canes", the "dogs of the Lord," sniffing out heresy. The globe at the dog's feet reminds us of the Church's world-wide reach. To understand the image better, we might delve into the histories of both the Dominican order and the early Protestant movement. Religious art can be understood as a form of political and social commentary, but only through understanding the historical context in which it was made.