Death of a Saint c. 1580

This wash and pen drawing, "Death of a Saint," is by an anonymous artist. The focus on a saint's deathbed raises questions about the role of the Church. The drawing style evokes Italian art of the late 16th century, a period marked by the Counter-Reformation. The Catholic Church promoted the veneration of saints and encouraged artists to depict scenes of religious devotion. But we can also imagine that it comments on the social structures of its own time. Is it self-consciously conservative or progressive? Does it critique the institutions of art? To fully understand this work, art historians research the social, religious, and artistic conventions of the period. We study the patronage system, the role of religious orders, and the artistic training available at the time. By considering these elements, we can better understand the artwork's original context and meaning. Art's meaning is contingent on its social and institutional context.