The death of Saint Joseph, lying on a bed, with Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and angels at his side 1740 - 1750

Johann Christian Teucher made this engraving of the death of Saint Joseph in the mid-18th century. The scene depicts Joseph on his deathbed, surrounded by Jesus, the Virgin Mary, and angels, a common subject in Catholic art of the period. Consider the role of the Catholic Church as an institution in 18th century Europe, especially in light of the Protestant reformation. Images were carefully managed and controlled to educate and inspire piety. This print, with its emphasis on familial devotion and divine presence, exemplifies the Church's efforts to reinforce its teachings and traditions. The visual codes, such as the halo above Christ and the Virgin Mary, and the presence of angels, all serve to denote the holiness of the scene. By examining sources that discuss 18th-century religious art, we can understand how it functioned as a tool for social cohesion and religious instruction. The meaning of art is contingent on its social and institutional context, which are illuminated through historical research.