Apostel Filippus met kruis 1517 - 1527

Curator: Let's delve into this engraving by Marco Dente, created between 1517 and 1527, currently held at the Rijksmuseum. It’s titled "Apostle Philip with Cross". Editor: Wow, Philip looks so…contemplative. Like he's about to drop the hottest take on the Gospel, or maybe he just stubbed his toe. The etching feels a little severe. All that careful linework emphasizes weight—both of the fabric and maybe his…burden? Curator: Indeed. Dente, known for his reproductive prints after Raphael, situates Philip within a rich theological tradition, underscoring the weight of religious history. The cross he carries and the book he clutches are symbols fraught with power. We should consider too the social context and rising debates over religious authority during the Reformation. How might viewers during that era read this work? Editor: Reformation reflection...okay, I get it. So this isn't just "bro with cross," it’s about grappling with scripture and power structures. But also, can we talk about his feet? The bare feet are like this vulnerable counterpoint to all that heavy fabric and those symbols of authority. It kinda brings him down to earth, you know? Makes him feel... human. And that halo? Is that a dig, or some form of acceptance? Curator: A perceptive observation! Those bare feet serve as a signifier of humility but, one may ask: humility before whom, and at what expense? And regarding the halo, while signaling divinity, it’s presented here without ornate embellishment. This stripped-down depiction raises important questions around saintly representation and how the divine is accessed. Editor: So, we’re basically looking at Renaissance fan fiction. It's taking a popular character from religious stories and making you rethink their entire vibe. Like, "What if Philip had doubts?". I like the subtle storytelling, it does ask for you to pause. Curator: Exactly! Dente’s engraving invites critical reflection on belief and authority in a turbulent time, resonating with concerns that still echo today in broader dialogues about institutional power. Editor: It makes you want to ask this Apostle Philip some questions... or at least buy him a comfy pair of sandals.