A Group of Saints and Angels (recto); Studies of a Male Figure in a Pendentive (verso) 1613 - 1699

Editor: Here we have Mattia Preti’s drawing, “A Group of Saints and Angels,” created sometime between 1613 and 1699, using ink. I'm struck by how dynamic it is, even in a preliminary sketch. What do you see in this piece? Curator: I see a direct line to the social upheavals of Preti's time. Think about the religious conflicts, the shifting power dynamics, and the rise of absolutism. How might those anxieties manifest in depictions of saints and angels? Editor: It’s interesting that you frame it in the context of political power. Curator: Consider the visual language being employed. Note the way the figures are positioned, their gaze directed upwards as if seeking divine intervention. Does this upward gaze imply power, hope, or perhaps even desperation? Think about the people Preti painted for -- powerful Sicilian patrons during a time when they oppressed marginalized populations, how is that dichotomy explored through these "holy" figures? Editor: I never thought about it that way before! I was so caught up in the technical skill, I didn't consider how this drawing also reflects social unrest and power imbalances within religious themes. Curator: Exactly. And what about the angels? Who gets to be an angel, and what does that role represent in a society grappling with inequity? How might contemporary theory challenge traditional interpretations of these figures? Editor: It definitely gives me a lot to think about in terms of who gets represented and how. Thanks for highlighting the social commentary in this seemingly religious scene. Curator: Absolutely. Seeing art through the lens of social justice can illuminate so much about the past and present.