Petrus doopt de H. Prisca van Rome c. 1586 - 1610

Cornelis Galle I made this engraving, depicting Saint Peter baptizing Saint Prisca of Rome, likely in the early 17th century. Engravings like this were important tools in the Counter-Reformation, as the Catholic Church sought to reaffirm its authority through visual spectacle. Galle, working in Antwerp, a major center of Catholic art production, would have been keenly aware of the power of images to convey religious messages and reinforce social hierarchies. Here, the setting is grand, suggesting the power and institutional presence of the Church. Note how Prisca kneels in submission, emphasizing the importance of obedience to religious authority. Galle's work underscores the Church’s role in shaping social norms and individual behavior. To understand Galle's work fully, one might consult period documents, theological treatises, and histories of the Counter-Reformation. It's through this broader understanding of the social and institutional context that the artwork's meaning truly comes to light.