Study for a Reliquary Sarcophagus 

Giovanni Odazzi made this drawing in pen and brown ink, as a study for a reliquary sarcophagus. The cherubic figures reference classical antiquity, yet they are rendered with a distinctly Baroque exuberance that speaks to the religious fervor of 17th and 18th century Italy. The Catholic Church in Italy commissioned a great number of artworks during this period. The Vatican and other religious institutions were deeply involved in the production of culture, employing artists to create works that glorified saints, martyrs and of course the institution of the Church itself. Reliquaries were especially important. They functioned as ornate containers for sacred relics, physical remains of saints or objects associated with them. The relics were thought to have miraculous powers, and reliquaries were often focal points for prayer and pilgrimage. By studying patronage records, we can learn more about the social function of art in this period. This drawing then gives us a glimpse into the complex interplay between art, religion, and power in Baroque Italy.