Maagd verschijnt aan de H. Antonius 1637

"Maagd verschijnt aan de H. Antonius," or "The Virgin Appears to St. Anthony," was created by Michel Lasne, circa 1647. Lasne made this engraving during the Counter-Reformation. The piece depicts St. Anthony, a symbol of devotion, being visited by the Virgin Mary and baby Jesus, who emerge from the heavens surrounded by cherubic angels. Light radiates from the divine figures, illuminating the saint below. The details of the engraving, from St. Anthony's ragged clothes to the rosary beads beside him, suggest the performative nature of piety. During this time, the Catholic Church sought to reaffirm its spiritual authority. Art was often used to inspire religious fervor and awe. "Maagd verschijnt aan de H. Antonius" encapsulates both the personal quest for faith and the communal experience of religious ecstasy, highlighting the era's complex negotiation between individual spirituality and institutional power.