Bedelmonnik Philippus de Rebaldis after 1576

This print, "Bedelmonnik Philippus de Rebaldis," was made by an anonymous artist, and depicts a mendicant monk. Through visual codes and historical associations, the image presents a statement about social structures in Rome. The monk's bare feet and simple garb, juxtaposed with the elaborate text and coat-of-arms, suggest a critique of worldly power. The Third Order of Saint Francis, to which Philippus belonged, emphasized poverty and service. The print may reflect contemporaneous debates about the Church's role and wealth in the face of urban poverty in Rome. Was this image of a life of 'purity, simplicity and austerity' meant to challenge the institutions of the Church at the time? To understand the print better, we might research the social history of mendicant orders, the economy of Rome, and the careers of both Rebaldis and Caffarello. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.