Madonna and Child with Patron Saints of Bologna c. 18th century

Editor: This is Francesco Rosaspina's "Madonna and Child with Patron Saints of Bologna." I'm struck by the texture created through the engraving process. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Well, consider the labor involved. Rosaspina, born in 1762, was a printmaker. He made this image by manipulating a metal plate, a skilled trade. This reproductive print democratized access to religious imagery. How does its existence as a multiple affect its meaning for you? Editor: I hadn't thought about how printing makes it more accessible. It's interesting to consider the art market, then! Thanks! Curator: Exactly. The means of production shape the work's reception.