St. Andrew Corsini in prayer 1635

Guido Reni painted Saint Andrew Corsini in prayer at an unknown date in Italy. Here, the artist emphasizes the divine approval of religious authority through the symbolic language of Baroque painting. The Bishop is depicted in a moment of ecstatic prayer, bathed in divine light from above. He is assisted by cherubic figures, while the trappings of office sit in the background. Italian Baroque art was closely linked to the Catholic Church’s project of the Counter-Reformation. In response to the rise of Protestantism, leading Catholic artists created sensational images of religious experience, which was intended to inspire awe and devotion. Consider also the patronage of the church itself. How did its commissioning power shape the artwork? By examining primary sources such as theological tracts, biographies of saints, and records of church patronage, historians can better understand the social conditions that shaped this artwork. This reminds us that a painting’s meaning emerges from its historical context.