Saint Cajetan of Thiene Holding the Infant Jesus 1730 - 1740

Gaetano Zompini's pen and wash drawing depicts Saint Cajetan of Thiene holding the Infant Jesus, surrounded by angels floating on clouds. The iconography of a saint holding the Christ Child has deep roots in the visual language of the church, symbolizing divine grace and the intimate connection between the earthly and the divine. Consider the long tradition of Madonna and Child images throughout the Byzantine era and Renaissance: these images resonate with the nurturing aspect and the protective embrace seen here. Cajetan's reverent kneeling posture and the tender interaction between him and the Christ Child is a classical motif reflecting the saint's compassion. It recalls how, in earlier Roman art, emperors were shown receiving offerings. Here, the emotional power of the scene evokes deep subconscious memories of maternal care, protection, and the divine made accessible. Ultimately, the cyclical nature of these motifs reminds us that such archetypes continuously resurface. They reappear in our collective consciousness, revealing that the past is ever-present.