Saint Margaret of Cortona surrounded by rays of light 1445 - 1455

This woodcut of Saint Margaret of Cortona surrounded by rays of light was created by an anonymous artist, location and date unknown. Here, the saint is shown in a mandorla of light, hovering over a cityscape, with a moon and sun looming to either side. Margaret of Cortona was a controversial figure in her own time. After living for years as the mistress of a nobleman, she turned to a life of penance and devotion. She then became known for her charitable works and advocacy for the poor. The church was initially hesitant to embrace her, but after her death, she was canonized and became a popular saint, particularly in Italy. Her story speaks to the tensions between social expectations, personal transformation, and the institutional church, and the woodcut speaks to the power of the church and how it can be promoted to the masses. To truly understand the image, we must immerse ourselves in social and religious history by consulting religious texts, biographies, and other historical documents. Only then can we fully appreciate the complex ways in which art reflects and shapes our understanding of the world.