Saint Liberalis 1892

Timothy Cole created this engraving of Saint Liberalis, sometime between the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Cole was known as one of the foremost wood engravers in America, reproducing paintings by Old Masters for popular magazines. This image shows a saint in full armor, holding a flag. The figure is likely derived from Italian Renaissance paintings, which often depicted saints as idealized figures with noble bearing. The presence of religious imagery in popular magazines suggests that the cultural values of this period were often intertwined with religious themes, as these publications were often seen as a source of moral and cultural guidance. Looking at the social and institutional context in which this engraving was made, historians could research the popular magazines that published Cole's work, as well as the art market and cultural values of the time, to better understand the role of religious imagery in American society. Ultimately, the meaning and significance of this artwork is contingent on these social and institutional contexts.