St. Basil the Great 1632 - 1685

Conrad Lauwers created this engraving of St. Basil the Great sometime between 1632 and 1685. The image depicts Basil as a figure of authority, adorned in elaborate vestments and holding a book, likely of scripture or theology. Lauwers was from Antwerp, a city which remained Catholic during the period of the Dutch Golden Age. The image of Basil speaks to the Catholic Church’s efforts during the Counter-Reformation to reaffirm its authority by visually connecting itself to important figures of the early church. Engravings like this one would have been relatively inexpensive and highly reproducible; they were a powerful tool for disseminating Catholic ideology. In understanding works like this, the art historian relies on a vast range of information. We might consult books on the Counter-Reformation, histories of the Catholic Church, or inventories of printmaking workshops in 17th-century Antwerp. All of these resources help us understand the social and institutional context in which this image was made.