Drie Dominicaanse heiligen 1739 - 1780

Curator: Soaring figures! Honestly, the first thing that strikes me about this engraving is its sense of ascending movement. Editor: I'm drawn to the contrast itself—black ink meticulously laid on paper around the mid-18th century. Consider the hand, the pressure, the skilled labor involved in producing multiple copies of this "Drie Dominicaanse heiligen." Curator: Yes, indeed, Francesco Bartolozzi offers us this ethereal depiction, perhaps somewhere between 1739 and 1780. He truly captured that Baroque dynamism. It feels as if the saints are levitating, lifted by divine grace and... clouds, mostly clouds! The angel overhead seems to orchestrate the whole affair. Editor: Note the garments. Each Dominican robe, a testament to the textile industry, its dyes, its wear and tear... religious order regulated dress and dictated codes, controlling its representation across various engravings in contrast with Baroque theatrical style that the engraver suggests so elegantly. Curator: Beautiful point. And there’s almost a softness to the scene, wouldn't you agree? Despite the very precise lines of the engraving, there's this dreamlike quality to their upward gaze. I can almost feel the light catching their faces. I would argue that it is that kind of devotional intimacy and personal relationship with God, which at its time would create quite an impact. Editor: Intimacy yes. Bartolozzi certainly capitalizes the circulation of images for political agenda; by printing these he's engaging with an early form of mass media. Also it's useful to highlight the role of reproductive printmaking in disseminating art and faith—a kind of industrial approach to spirituality, a fascinating juxtaposition! Curator: I think this really demonstrates the magic within simple materials and artistry, opening conversations to question meaning behind form in unexpected places! Editor: Precisely! Seeing the art through this lens encourages to see past immediate artistic impression and opens dialogue for a new interpretation.