Episode 25: In Rome Saint Bernardino cures a diseased young man; Episode 26: Saint Bernardino cures a leper; Episode 27: In Perugia Saint Bernardino warns an errant young man, from "The Life of Saint Bernardino of Siena"

Art Historical Context

This etching, part of a series illustrating *The Life of Saint Bernardino of Siena*, captures three miraculous episodes from the saint's legendary ministry: curing a diseased young man in Rome (Episode 25), healing a leper (Episode 26), and warning an errant youth in Perugia (Episode 27). Created between 1610 and 1639 by Sienese artists Bernardino Capitelli and Rutilio Manetti, it reflects the Baroque era's dramatic flair, with dynamic compositions emphasizing the saint's divine power and moral authority. Saint Bernardino of Siena (1380–1444), a fervent Franciscan preacher, was renowned for his fiery sermons against vice and his reputed miracles during Italy's turbulent 15th century. These prints, produced amid the Counter-Reformation, served as devotional tools, inspiring pilgrims and reinforcing Catholic piety through vivid hagiography. Etching—a technique using acid to incise intricate lines on a metal plate—allowed for the fine detail and expressive shading seen here, making such narratives accessible via affordable reproductions. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, 1966), this 8⅜ × 10⅞-inch plate exemplifies 17th-century Italian printmaking's role in spreading saintly lore, blending artistry with spiritual fervor for everyday devotees.