Death of Saint Francis c. 17th century

Editor: This is Gérard Audran's "Death of Saint Francis" held here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's quite detailed. What strikes me is the contrast between the heavenly figures above and the more grounded, earthly scene below. What can you tell me about it? Curator: I notice the emphasis on the act of making itself. Audran used engraving, a process involving tools, labor, and a reproducible matrix. This contrasts with the unique, supposedly "divine" creation represented. Editor: That's an interesting point. It makes you consider the labor behind religious imagery. Curator: Exactly! And think about the market for prints like these. Who consumed them, and what kind of social function did they serve? Perhaps a reflection of the consumer culture of the time? Editor: Fascinating! It’s helpful to think about the work in its time as a product of materials, labour, and the market.