A Study for a Frontispiece: The Trinity and Saints surrounding the Sacred Hearts of Christ and the Virgin Mary, a Coastal Landscape Below 1743 - 1779

Editor: This drawing by Vitus Felix Rigl, dating back to the mid-18th century, is called "A Study for a Frontispiece: The Trinity and Saints surrounding the Sacred Hearts of Christ and the Virgin Mary, a Coastal Landscape Below". It's done with tempera on a blue preparation, a combination that gives the piece an ethereal quality. The composition is densely packed with figures and symbols, making it a bit overwhelming at first glance. What stands out to you as you view it? Curator: The overwhelming feeling is intentional, I suspect. Think about what the symbol of the Sacred Heart meant at that time – not just religious devotion, but also defiance, particularly in regions facing religious upheaval. Notice how the hearts are radiant centers, visually linking the earthly coastal landscape below with the divine figures above. Do you see how the arrangement invites the viewer to connect with the suffering of Christ and the Virgin Mary through the saints? Editor: I see what you mean. The coastal landscape does ground it a bit, and the radiant hearts definitely draw the eye. So, it's not just about religious imagery but also about communicating resilience. The crosses seem important. How do they relate to resilience? Curator: Exactly! Those crosses held by the figures are not just instruments of torture; they symbolize bearing witness, steadfast faith, and triumph over adversity. These symbols tie into something deep in human psyche - our ongoing attempts to find strength when faced with struggle and fear, and the image becomes a place where cultural memories and visual symbols intertwine, creating a layered representation of faith and strength across time. How does knowing this cultural memory affect your understanding? Editor: It completely shifts it. It is one thing to observe saints, hearts, and crosses and another to see them as symbols communicating religious defiance through faith. Curator: Yes, images are rarely just pictures.