The Virgin with apostles looking up towards the Holy Dove and two angels, after Reni 1700 - 1750

Giovanni Girolamo Frezza created this print, "The Virgin with apostles looking up towards the Holy Dove and two angels, after Reni," sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. It’s a fascinating example of how religious imagery functioned within specific institutional and cultural contexts in Italy. Here, we see the Virgin Mary surrounded by the apostles, all gazing upwards towards the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove, flanked by angels. The visual codes are clear: the dove represents divine grace, and the upward gaze signifies spiritual enlightenment. Italy at this time was deeply influenced by the Catholic Church, and religious art served as a crucial tool for communicating religious doctrine and reinforcing social norms. Prints like this were often commissioned by religious institutions or wealthy patrons to propagate Christian teachings. To fully understand this print, one needs to research the patronage system and the role of religious orders in shaping artistic production. Examining the artist's biography and the cultural milieu in which he operated can reveal much about the image's intended audience and its place within the broader history of religious art.