Maria van de Rozenkrans met de H. Dominicus en de H. Catharina van Siena 1615 - 1664

This is an engraving depicting Maria van de Rozenkrans met de H. Dominicus en de H. Catharina van Siena, by an anonymous artist. The piece reflects the period’s religious devotion and its intersection with the social roles of women. The Virgin Mary is centrally positioned, holding the Christ child, surrounded by a rosary, with Saint Dominic and Saint Catherine of Siena kneeling below. Note how Mary’s posture is both maternal and regal. Mary hands a rosary to each saint, symbolizing the intercession of female figures in accessing the divine. The inclusion of Saint Catherine, a mystic and diplomat, reflects the period's complex negotiation of female authority within the church. Representations such as this negotiate power, piety, and gender within the strictures of religious doctrine. It invites us to reflect on the varied expressions of faith and the negotiation of identity within prescribed roles.