The Virgin and Child (Madonna of the Canopy) 18th-19th century

Editor: This is "The Virgin and Child (Madonna of the Canopy)" by Bernard Antoine Nicollet, it's a print at the Harvard Art Museums. It feels very staged, almost like a theatrical production. What can you tell me about its historical context? Curator: The arrangement certainly alludes to staging, doesn’t it? Prints like this one circulated widely, shaping religious and political ideas. Consider the iconography: the Virgin enthroned, flanked by saints. How might this image function in reinforcing the Church's authority and projecting an image of divine order during its time? Editor: So, it's less about personal devotion and more about public image? Curator: Precisely. The image acts almost as propaganda solidifying the church in the public eye. Editor: That’s a really interesting perspective; I hadn't considered the political angle. Thanks!