Saint Gregory the Great Interceding for Souls in Purgatory 1663 - 1731

Giovanni Odazzi made this pen and brown wash drawing, Saint Gregory the Great Interceding for Souls in Purgatory, sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. It depicts the Pope petitioning God the Father and the Virgin Mary for the release of souls from purgatory. This image reflects the cultural importance of the Catholic Church in Italy at that time, with its emphasis on intercession, repentance, and the hope of salvation. It visualizes the hierarchical structure of the church, with the Pope acting as a mediator between the earthly and divine realms. We can trace the idea of Purgatory back to the 12th century, and it became a central tenet of Catholic doctrine by the time of the Counter-Reformation. To fully understand this work, we need to do more research into the specific religious and artistic conventions of the period. Through this work, the viewer can gain a deeper appreciation of the interplay between art, faith, and society in early modern Italy.