Diverse figuren waaronder de heilige Odilia die een boek in ontvangst neemt 1729 - 1733

Dominique Sornique created this drawing depicting various figures, including Saint Odilia receiving a book, sometime in the first half of the 18th century. The composition is divided into two distinct registers, each presenting figures with a formal austerity that is quite striking. In the upper portion, we see two figures presenting what appear to be models of buildings, held aloft with a sense of solemnity. The lower register features a grouping of figures within an arched space, the central figure of Saint Odilia highlighted by her acceptance of the book, an object that here signifies knowledge and spiritual insight. The figures are rendered with a linear precision. The use of line and the structured arrangement of forms convey a sense of order and hierarchy, reflecting perhaps the period's inclination towards rationalism. The print operates within a semiotic framework where gestures, objects, and architectural elements serve as signs, each contributing to a larger narrative about faith, knowledge, and authority. The emphasis on form, more than emotion, invites us to consider how visual structures communicate meaning and reinforce cultural values.