De profetie van Basilides 1630 - 1660

Giovanni Cesare Testa created this print, "The Prophecy of Basilides," sometime between 1640 and 1660. Testa was working in Rome at a time of immense social upheaval, with the bubonic plague ravaging communities and deeply affecting people's spiritual beliefs. In this print, we see the artist grappling with questions of faith and leadership. The figures are arranged in two distinct groups, highlighting differing forms of power. On the left, we have a military procession, representative of earthly power, with soldiers and horses moving towards an altar. On the right, the realm of divine power is represented; angels attend to a dying man, alluding to a prophecy. The scene captures the tension between institutional authority and individual spiritual experience, and considers the intersection of religion, politics, and personal belief during the artist's lifetime. It encourages us to consider where we place our faith.