Maria met Kind op troon met de heilige Dominicus en de heilige Catharina van Siena 1590

Antonio Tempesta created this print, "Maria met Kind op troon met de heilige Dominicus en de heilige Catharina van Siena" sometime between 1555 and 1630. It's a work that invites us to consider the complex relationship between religion, power, and gender in the early modern period. The print depicts the Virgin Mary and infant Jesus enthroned, flanked by Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine of Siena. Consider the historical weight of these figures: Mary, the quintessential mother and intercessor; Dominic, founder of the Dominican order; and Catherine, a mystic and diplomat who advised popes. The arrangement of these figures speaks to the power structures of the time, with Mary central as a maternal figure but still secondary to the Church's male leadership. The inclusion of Saint Catherine is particularly striking, as she embodies a rare example of female authority within the Church. Yet her power was always mediated through her piety and visions. The emotional intensity of the scene, with the saints kneeling in reverence, reflects the period's heightened religious fervor. But it also underscores the ways in which women's spiritual experiences were both celebrated and contained within patriarchal structures.