De heilige Andreas Corsini knielend voor Maria met Kind 1686 - 1748

Giovanni Girolamo Frezza created this print, "De heilige Andreas Corsini knielend voor Maria met Kind" sometime between the late 17th and early 18th century. During this period, the Catholic Church played a significant role in shaping social and cultural life. Prints like this one served not only as devotional objects, but also as powerful tools for disseminating religious ideologies. In this print, Saint Andreas Corsini is depicted kneeling before the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus, surrounded by angels. Consider the gendered dynamics at play: Mary, the epitome of feminine virtue, bestows grace upon the male saint, reinforcing traditional hierarchies within the Church. The artist invites the viewer to witness this divine encounter, fostering a sense of awe and reverence. Yet, how might the faithful have received this image? Perhaps it offered solace, or maybe a renewed commitment to their own spiritual path. This print encapsulates the emotional and spiritual landscape of its time, reflecting both the power of the Church and the personal devotion of its followers.