Priester die het altaar kust 1661

Sébastien Leclerc I made this print, “Priest Kissing the Altar,” sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. Here, Leclerc gives us a glimpse into the rituals of the Catholic Church, in this case the veneration of the altar during mass. Look closely at the scene depicted behind the altar. We see Christ being betrayed. It is no accident that Leclerc has framed the priest’s actions with this image. The rituals of the church, particularly the mass, are understood as reenactments of Christ’s sacrifice. Leclerc uses a visual code, contrasting the actions of priest and Christ, to emphasize this point. France in this era was defined by its Catholic institutions. Leclerc worked for Louis XIV, the epitome of absolute monarchy supported by the Church. Yet, prints like these also circulated among the Jansenists, a reform movement within the Church that called for a return to the simplicity of the Gospels. As historians, we can consult the writings of theologians, reformers, and ordinary parishioners to gain insight into the complex relationship between the Church and French society. In doing so, we come to understand how even a simple print can be a window into the social and religious landscape of its time.