Saint Philippe 

Saint Philippe was made by Domenico Beccafumi sometime in the 16th century. The depiction of Saint Philippe with a book and a cross connects to wider themes of religious devotion prominent in Renaissance Italy. During this period, the Catholic Church wielded enormous cultural influence. Artists like Beccafumi created imagery to reinforce religious doctrine. The visual codes of this woodcut—the saint's robes, his book representing knowledge, and the cross symbolizing Christ's sacrifice—carry powerful meaning. Beccafumi was working at a time when the Church faced challenges to its authority, including the rise of Protestantism. Art became an important tool for reaffirming traditional beliefs. To truly understand this work, we have to consider the institutional history of the Catholic Church and the role that art played within it. Research into theological debates, patronage networks, and the artist's biography would deepen our understanding of this fascinating print.