Saintly Prelate Distributing Alms 1505 - 1562

Christoph Amberger’s pen and ink drawing of a Saintly Prelate Distributing Alms was created sometime in the 16th century. Amberger, living in Augsburg, Germany during the Reformation, was painting at a moment of immense religious and social upheaval. Here, the prelate’s act of charity is cast against the backdrop of immense disparity. The drawing asks us to consider not just the giving, but the conditions that necessitate it. The standing prelate, adorned in elaborate garb, dispenses alms to a kneeling, impoverished man, highlighting a rigid social hierarchy sanctioned by the church. The round format lends an intimate quality, inviting us to reflect on the personal dimensions of faith, while acknowledging the broader systemic issues of poverty and power. Consider the ways acts of charity can be both a source of solace and a reminder of inequality.