Heilige Blasius 1598

This print of Saint Blaise was made by Francesco Villamena using engraving, a printmaking technique that involves cutting lines into a metal plate, inking it, and pressing it onto paper. The network of lines that describe Saint Blaise’s face and form create a sense of depth and shadow, crucial to understanding the image. Notice how Villamena's skilled manipulation of the engraving process results in varied line weights and densities. This is particularly evident in the saint's beard and the folds of his robes. It gives the image a tactile quality, making it feel almost sculptural. Blaise is holding instruments relating to his status as the patron saint of wool combers. His story tells how he healed a boy who was choking on a fishbone, and he is still invoked against throat ailments today. The print, therefore, isn't just an aesthetic object, but a tool for invoking faith, and a reminder of the skilled labor that went into the creation of textiles. This piece is evidence of the entanglement of art, craft, and religious practice.