Inwijding van een room-katholieke kerk 1722

Bernard Picart made this etching, "Inauguration of a Roman Catholic Church," sometime around the turn of the 18th century. The image encapsulates the solemn rituals surrounding the consecration of a church, emphasizing the sacred nature of the space. Looking closely, we see the bishop tracing the Greek and Roman alphabets on the floor as well as other steps in the ceremony. This work likely comes from France, where the Catholic church was heavily funded and wielded enormous power. Religious institutions like the church were central to social order, dictating norms around morality, governance and the arts. The church played a crucial role in shaping artistic expression and cultural values during this era. Studying engravings like this, alongside historical documents, church records, and theological writings, reveals the complex interplay between religion, art, and society in early modern Europe. Through careful research, we can better understand the social conditions that shaped artistic production and the public role of art in reinforcing or challenging existing social norms.