Maria verschijnt aan de heilige Francisca van Rome 1620 - 1667

Pietro del Po created this print, "Maria Appears to Saint Francis of Rome", sometime in the 17th century. The eye is immediately drawn to the ethereal figure of the Virgin Mary, centrally positioned and elevated on clouds, her draped form a study in voluminous, curvilinear lines. She stands in stark contrast to the horizontal plane of the architectural space below. Del Po masterfully employs the graphic language of engraving, using the density and direction of lines to create tonal variation and atmospheric effects. Note how the linear perspective draws the viewer's eye deeper into the pictorial space, only to be met by the cloud bank supporting the Virgin. The lines in the architecture create stability and order in contrast to the emotional figures in the foreground, where St. Frances kneels in supplication and angels clash with swords. This work transcends mere illustration, engaging with complex ideas about divine intervention and the perceived world. Through its formal composition and linear precision, this print invites us to consider the intersection of the earthly and the divine, of rationality and faith, mirroring the philosophical inquiries of its time.