Apostel en vier engelen 1609 - 1660

Giovanni Battista Vanni made this print of an apostle and four angels in the 17th century using etching. In it, we can see the way the artist adopted and transformed the conventions of classical art. Vanni was working in Italy, and in this period, artists looked to ancient Greek and Roman sculpture for models of beauty. The figures here, with their idealized bodies and flowing drapery, show how classical ideals were revived in the art of the Renaissance and Baroque periods. Yet, Vanni was not simply copying ancient forms. He was working for the church, at a time when it was actively promoting its doctrines through art. Here we see religious imagery blended with classical ideals. The apostle, perhaps representing one of the key figures in the foundation of the church, is surrounded by angels. The torch might symbolize divine enlightenment. The image is an essay in ideal beauty, while also affirming religious authority. To fully understand this print, we can investigate the history of religious art and the classical tradition. Only then can we properly place Vanni's work within its complex cultural context.