H. Ambrosius c. 1610 - 1633

Cornelis Galle I created this engraving of Saint Ambrosius sometime between the late 16th and mid-17th centuries. The image presents Ambrosius, a 4th-century saint and bishop of Milan, as a figure of authority and wisdom. The print employs visual codes associated with religious power, showing Ambrosius in full episcopal regalia, complete with a mitre and crosier. The inclusion of a beehive alludes to the saint's eloquence as a preacher. Made in the Netherlands, this image reflects the Catholic Counter-Reformation's emphasis on the authority of the Church Fathers in response to Protestant challenges. The details of Galle's print suggest the conservative social forces at play within the Church. To fully understand this image, one might consult theological treatises of the period, paying attention to the place of the early Church Fathers in contemporary debates. Understanding art means situating it within the social and institutional contexts of its creation.