Bust of the Virgin 1606 - 1607

Curator: This is Raffaello Schiaminossi’s "Bust of the Virgin," an engraving dating back to 1606 or 1607, part of the Italian Renaissance. Editor: There's a delicate stillness here. The hatching creates a strong sense of light on her face, a real intimacy achieved through these linear textures. The softness almost hides the work involved in its making. Curator: Schiaminossi masterfully captures a devotional tone, channeling both the piety of the era and an emerging focus on personal emotion, as society reckoned with evolving socio-religious dynamics during the Counter-Reformation. Note the title itself, "Maria, Mater Dei"—a pointed reminder of her role. Editor: And that's interesting, isn't it? The tools, the burin carving lines into metal, employed to spread the messages and authority of the Church. These devotional images are products made for widespread consumption. Did he perhaps use a harder metal for this image as compared to similar prints by the same author? Curator: Absolutely, we can interpret that from the stark, uncompromising contrast here and its symbolism, too: she gazes down, in meek contemplation of her divine assignment. As engravings became more accessible, depictions like these impacted understandings and attitudes towards women, their roles in religion and the family. Editor: Right, but looking closer at those engravings themselves, they reveal much about workshop practice. Did Schiaminossi have assistants working with him? How much artistic freedom did they have reproducing and varying devotional prototypes like this? These things always interest me more. Curator: That's an interesting point and one to examine, how devotional icons become material for mass reproduction and the question about authorship that comes with that practice. Editor: Yes. In some ways it detracts from the artist, if his name should even be known. A reproduction should just be. Anyway, thank you, that gave me more to think about. Curator: Of course. Exploring it from this lens allows for richer narratives.