Geboorte van de heilige Antonius de Grote 1598

Antonio Tempesta created this engraving, "Birth of Saint Anthony the Great," sometime between 1575 and 1630. It depicts Anthony's birth, a moment framed by both earthly and divine approval. Tempesta was working in a Counter-Reformation Italy, a period defined by the Catholic Church's response to the rise of Protestantism. The Church emphasized the role of saints as intercessors and models of piety. Note how the family's nobility and religious devotion, coupled with the parents' previous infertility, underscore a narrative of divine intervention. The act of charity following his birth reinforces the idea of good works as evidence of faith. Consider how gender roles are reinforced here too. The women attend to the birthing process while the men stand in the foreground, ready to distribute alms. Although, the kneeling man in prayer appears to ask for divine assistance, and we can consider that Tempesta subtly imbues this scene with themes of hope, faith, and the promise of redemption.