H. Antonius gezegend door de patriarch van Alexandrië 1598

Antonio Tempesta made this engraving, "H. Antonius gezegend door de patriarch van Alexandrië", that now resides in the Rijksmuseum. The print tells of a scene between St. Anthony and the Patriarch of Alexandria. The work creates meaning through the visual codes of the church. It was made in Europe in the 16th or 17th century. The geography of Europe influenced the work, as did Christianity, historical events, social class, political movements, and economic structures. The print uses light and shadow to create a dramatic effect, drawing the viewer's eye to the central figures. It may be commenting on social structures of its own time, perhaps self-consciously conservative or progressive, or even critiquing the institutions of art. To understand it better, one might research the historical context, including the lives of St. Anthony and the Patriarch of Alexandria, and the religious and social customs of the time.