Heilige Dominicus met rijksappel en hond met brandende fakkel 1623 - 1660

Pieter de Bailliu created this print of Saint Dominic. The image presents Dominic as a pillar of the Catholic Church, symbolized by the cross staff, set against the challenge represented by the dog with a burning torch. This print, made in the Southern Netherlands, what we now call Belgium, when it was under Spanish rule, reflects the Counter-Reformation's imagery that sought to reassert Catholic authority. Saint Dominic, founder of the Dominican Order, was crucial in combating heresy through preaching and intellectual rigor. The dog with the torch symbolizes Dominic's mission to ignite the world with divine truth, challenging heretical beliefs. The lily represents purity and the book knowledge. To fully grasp this print, it is worth to consider the broader religious and political landscape of the 17th century, consulting theological texts, and delving into the history of the Dominican Order and the Counter-Reformation. Understanding this print involves reconstructing its original social and institutional context.