Saint Margarita of Cortona, kneeling before Christ, after Pietro Andrea Pucciardi Barberi 1697 - 1741

Giovanni Girolamo Frezza made this print, Saint Margarita of Cortona Kneeling before Christ, after Pietro Andrea Pucciardi Barberi, sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. This image is a window onto the intense relationship between the Catholic Church, its saints, and the faithful. Margarita of Cortona was a popular figure, and her visions of Christ were a source of inspiration for many. But this wasn't just about personal piety; it was also about the Church asserting its authority. The elaborate symbolism, with angels and divine figures, reinforced the Church's role as the mediator between humanity and the divine. Prints like this were often commissioned by religious orders or wealthy patrons, like Cardinal Coradino, whose name is inscribed at the bottom of the image. They served as devotional aids but also as a form of propaganda, promoting the Church's teachings and reinforcing its social standing. The visual language of the print, from the saint's humble pose to the radiant figure of Christ, was carefully crafted to evoke specific emotions and convey particular messages. To fully understand this print, one would need to research the history of the Catholic Church in Italy, the life of Saint Margarita, and the role of religious imagery in shaping popular belief.