Saint Bonaventura 

Bartolomé Estebán Murillo painted Saint Bonaventura in Spain in the 17th Century. In this period, the Catholic Church was a major cultural institution, employing artists to create imagery that would reinforce religious doctrine and inspire the faithful. Here, Bonaventura is shown with a halo, holding a quill and a book, indicating his status as a saint and scholar. The bishop's mitre suggests his high rank within the church. But we can also interpret this work as a comment on the social structures of the time. Saint Bonaventure lived in the 13th century. Murillo, painting four centuries later, places him in a tradition of Christian scholarship that still mattered in the 1600's, when intellectual life was still dominated by religious writing. Murillo's work reflects a conservative vision of his society. Historians can use sources such as letters, diaries, and financial records to understand the context in which art was made. By understanding the social and institutional context of art, we can better appreciate its meaning and significance.