H. Johannes Nepomuk als pleitbezorger van stervenden 1750 - 1770

Jakob Matthias Schmutzer created this print, *H. Johannes Nepomuk als pleitbezorger van stervenden*, which translates to *St. John of Nepomuk as an advocate for the dying*, sometime in the late 18th century. Looking at the visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations, we can consider the context in which this work was made. Schmutzer was Austrian, and Austria was a devoutly Catholic country during his lifetime. The print depicts John of Nepomuk, a saint who was drowned in the 14th century for refusing to reveal the Queen of Bohemia's confessions. He became a symbol of resistance against unjust authority, and a protector against slander and drowning. Prints like this one would have been made for private devotion. It may have served as a didactic tool, or a signifier of one’s social status. Religious institutions would have played a central role in the dissemination and consumption of prints like this one. To understand this work further, we can look to the religious history of 18th century Austria, as well as institutional histories of the church. Art is always contingent on social and institutional context.