Johannes de Doper verschijnt aan Filippo Neri 1630 - 1641

Luca Ciamberlano created this print of Saint John the Baptist appearing to Filippo Neri around the 1620s. The image depicts a key moment in the life of the Italian saint, Neri, who dedicated himself to helping the poor and sick in Rome. Prints like this one played a significant role in shaping the visual culture of the Catholic Church during the Counter-Reformation. The Church used images to inspire religious devotion and spread its message. The design is self-consciously progressive in its depiction of a more personal and direct relationship with the divine. Neri kneels in supplication as Saint John appears to him, emphasizing individual piety over institutional ritual. To better understand Ciamberlano’s work, we can research the lives of the saints, the history of religious orders in Rome, and the artistic conventions of the period. Only by considering these elements can we fully grasp the meaning and significance of this print within its original social and institutional context.