Chiesa della Consolazione (San Tommaso Di Villanova Distribuisce I Beni Ai Poveri) 

Domenico Fiasella painted "Chiesa della Consolazione (San Tommaso Di Villanova Distribuisce I Beni Ai Poveri)" during a time of immense social stratification, as the Catholic Church was at the heart of power structures. The painting depicts Saint Thomas of Villanova, who is known for his charitable acts, distributing alms to the poor. However, the distribution is not equal: notice the different emotional states of the recipients. The women on the left are shrouded in darkness, while the mother and child on the right are lit up, revealing a tender, almost erotic, tableau. The men raising their arms to the bishop seem desperate. Is Fiasella commenting on the performative nature of charity? The Church often used images like these to reinforce its moral authority, but I think Fiasella is inviting us to reflect on the complexities of wealth, poverty, and power. He exposes the emotional landscape of dependency and the subtle ways in which generosity can also be a form of control.