Het hoofd van San Carlo Borromeo 1604 - 1646

Francesco Furini created this drawing, Head of San Carlo Borromeo, using chalk. Furini painted during the Baroque period, a time when the Catholic Church sought to reaffirm its spiritual authority amidst the rise of Protestantism. Borromeo, an Archbishop of Milan during the Counter-Reformation, was known for his austerity and commitment to religious reform. Here, he is captured with a downcast gaze which adds to the somber tone. Looking at this head, rendered in muted tones, one senses a tension between the ethereal and the earthly. Furini's delicate use of color lends a soft, human quality to the Saint, whose legacy is deeply intertwined with the Church's efforts to reassert its dominance. Consider the ways in which artistic representations of religious figures can shape public perception and reinforce institutional power. While focusing on the likeness of Borromeo, Furini captured the psychological and emotional complexity of a man who lived during a time of immense change and upheaval.