Maria met kind de heilige Rosalia

This print, made by William Unger, shows Mary and the Christ child with Saint Rosalia. Born in Palermo, Italy, in the 12th century, Rosalia is the patron saint of the city. She is invoked to protect against disease, and is often depicted with skulls, which you can see at the feet of Mary in this print. Here, though, her role is to offer the Christ child a wreath of flowers. Prints like this one, made in the 19th century, played a vital role in circulating religious imagery and reinforcing traditional values. The revival of religious art at this time was also closely tied to conservative political movements. By looking at the social history of religious beliefs and practices in 19th century Europe, we can come to a richer understanding of how and why this image was made, who its intended audience may have been, and what kinds of messages it was meant to convey.