De heilige Jozef en andere heilige met cellospelende engel

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 240

Art Historical Context

**De heilige Jozef andere heilige met cellende engel** is a striking 17th-century engraving Italian artist Carlo Cesio (162–1686), a master engraver and painter active in during the Baroque era. Measuring an impressive 550 mm high by 285 mm wide, this print captures a heavenly gathering of saints, centered on Saint Joseph, accompanied by other holy figures and a charming angel playing the cello. Cesio's work reflects the period's religious fervor, where art served as a visual bridge between the divine and the earthly, blending piety with artistic virtuosity. Engravings like this one were revolutionary for their time, allowing detailed images to be mass-produced and shared across Europe, making sacred art accessible beyond elite patrons. Cesio's technique—precise line work and subtle tonal gradations—evokes the dramatic chiaroscuro of Baroque masters like Bernini, whom he knew personally. The unusual inclusion of a cello-playing angel highlights music's role in Counter-Reformation spirituality, symbolizing harmony between heaven and earth. On the verso, a stamped collector's mark (Lugt 240) attests to its esteemed provenance, linking it to historic European collections. This piece invites visitors to ponder how prints preserved and popularized devotional themes, bridging centuries of artistic tradition.

About the Artist

Carlo Cesio · 1612–1692

Comment on works: religious