Madonna holding a lily branch with the Christ Child on her lap, seated on clouds, surrounded by cherub heads 1570 - 1615

Cherubino Alberti created this engraving of the Madonna and Child in Italy sometime between 1570 and 1615. We see Mary seated on clouds surrounded by cherubs, holding a lily and her son, Jesus. The image participates in a long history of Marian devotion, but here we should consider the social conditions of its making. The print includes the phrase "Cum privilegio S. Pontificis," telling us that Alberti had Papal permission to reproduce and sell this image. In this period, the Catholic Church was a major patron of the arts, so it would be savvy for an artist to align himself with the institution. This image is more than just a display of personal faith; it's a product of religious institutions and economic systems. To more fully understand the image, we might investigate the history of artistic patronage in the Papal States, and the market for devotional prints in the 16th and 17th centuries.