Broadsheet with Saint Camilo de Lelis in bed surrounded by demons, priests and the Holy Trinity above

Art Historical Context

This striking broadsheet from around 1900–1910 depicts Saint Camillus de Lellis (Camilo de Lelis), the 16th-century Italian founder of the Order of the Ministers of the Sick, lying in bed amid a dramatic heavenly and hellish tableau. Surrounding him are menacing demons clawing at his form, protective priests, and the radiant Holy Trinity above—Jesus, God the Father, and the Holy—symbolizing divine intervention. Such vivid imagery captures a pivotal moment from the saint's life, when he overcame personal temptations, including gambling demons, to devote himself to caring for the ill, earning him patronage over nurses and hospitals. Produced by Mexican printer Antonio Vanegas Arroyo (with anonymous design contributions), this work exemplifies early 20th-century Mexican broadsides: large, affordable single-sheet prints blending sensational religious narratives with folk art traditions. These were ubiquitous in markets and homes, educating the illiterate masses on saints' lives through bold visuals. The photorelief process—using photographic halftones etched into relief plates—combined with letterpress text, allowed for detailed, reproducible imagery at low cost, bridging photography's realism with traditional printing. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this 15 ¾ × 11 13⁄16-inch sheet highlights the cultural role of prints in Mexican devotional life, merging Catholic piety with popular mythology of angels, demons, and saints. It's a window into how faith was made tangible for everyday devotees.