En biskop, ridende på et æsel under en baldakin, kommer med en procession ind i en by, hvor han velsigner børn og syge mennesker 1637 - 1724

Sigismondo Caula sketched this drawing of a bishop entering a town to bless its residents sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. Caula lived and worked in a time and place, Northern Italy, where the Catholic Church was still a major power. In this sketch, Caula captures the performative aspects of religious authority. The Bishop, elevated on a donkey and shaded by a canopy, is at the center of a spectacle, reinforcing a strict social hierarchy. But look at the people reaching out to him, especially the sick and children, seemingly desperate for a touch of divine grace. What does it mean to need something from someone in power? It is important to think about how identity and social status affect a person's access to resources and respect. Caula’s sketch is an exploration of the emotional complexities of faith, power, and the everyday lives of people seeking solace and perhaps, a little dignity.