Filippo Neri geneest de bezeten Caterina d'Aversa 1630 - 1641

Luca Ciamberlano created this print, "Filippo Neri geneest de bezeten Caterina d'Aversa", sometime between 1599 and 1641. The print portrays a scene of exorcism, reflecting the intense religious atmosphere of the Counter-Reformation. The central figure is Caterina d'Aversa, kneeling and seemingly possessed, while Filippo Neri, a prominent Catholic saint, gestures towards her, attempting to heal her. The print highlights the gendered nature of hysteria and possession at the time, often afflicting women who were considered more susceptible to spiritual influences. Caterina, though described as ignorant, speaks Greek and Latin as if she had studied for years. This depiction serves as a visual representation of the power dynamics between the clergy and the laity, men and women, and sanity and supposed madness. Ciamberlano's work invites us to reflect on the historical treatment of mental health, the role of religious authority, and the experiences of those marginalized and stigmatized within society.