Plate 8: Canonization of Saint Catherine of Siena; Pius II seated on a throne at right, blessing his nephew, Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini, who kneels before him; after Mattia Preti 1755 - 1785

Giuliano Traballesi created this print, "Plate 8: Canonization of Saint Catherine of Siena," after a painting by Mattia Preti. It depicts Pope Pius II, enthroned and bestowing a blessing upon his kneeling nephew, Francesco Todeschini Piccolomini. This image reflects the interwoven nature of religious authority, familial power, and gendered sainthood in the 18th century. Catherine of Siena, a tertiary of the Dominican Order and mystic, was canonized in 1461, embodying a specific kind of female piety deemed acceptable by the Church. Yet, the scene focuses on the Pope, a male figure, reinforcing the patriarchal structures that governed religious life and the processes of sanctification. Note that the act of blessing Piccolomini suggests the continuation of familial power within the Church, further illustrating the complex interplay between religious devotion, power, and kinship. Ultimately, the print captures a moment of sanctioned blessing, yet it subtly questions the representation and control of female sanctity within a male-dominated religious and political landscape.