Prediche 1664 - 1680

This engraving by Gian Paolo Oliva depicts a sermon, likely made in Rome during the seventeenth century. The image presents us with the artist’s conception of sacred rhetoric and its public role within the Catholic Church. Oliva’s print creates meaning through visual codes. The dove of the Holy Spirit shines down on the central preacher while, below, we see the enthralled audience. By visually placing the preacher as a conduit for the divine, Oliva’s artwork suggests that the preacher’s words are divinely sanctioned. It’s interesting to note the architectural background, as well as the coat-of-arms at the very top. These visual cues suggest this sermon was delivered in the Vatican itself, cementing the authority of the Catholic Church. By considering the historical associations in the print – the visual language of power, the institutional setting, and the use of sacred imagery – we can understand that Oliva’s engraving acts as an explicit endorsement of the Catholic Church’s power. Further investigation through historical documents would provide a more complete picture of the artist’s intentions.