Christ appearing to Saint Margaret of Cortona 1728

Pietro Marchesini made this print of ‘Christ appearing to Saint Margaret of Cortona’ using etching and engraving techniques sometime in the first half of the 1700s. The image depicts a vision experienced by the thirteenth-century Saint Margaret, a popular figure in the Catholic counter-reformation. Made in Italy, this print reflects the period's renewed interest in religious devotion and mystical experience. We see Christ appearing before Saint Margaret, surrounded by angels. The skull, cross, and prayer beads in the foreground function as symbols of repentance. This work should be understood in the context of the Catholic Church's efforts to reaffirm its authority and inspire religious fervor through vivid imagery. Understanding the social conditions that shape artistic production, helps us to understand the social role of art and the politics of imagery. Research into hagiographies, religious treatises, and the history of the Catholic Church might help us understand this print better.