Averting an Abiding Scourge

This exhibition aims to reflect on the role of images originated in response to the experience and expectation of the plague. Plague outbreaks were a recurrent, but unpredictably, event in the life of Renaissance Italians, and the fear of new outburst was an abiding threat. However, conversely to what we might be used to think, fear and panic did not paralyzed society. On the contrary, people took active steps to counter the contagion right from the start, according to their knowledge and understanding of the disease.

Since ancient time, plague and pestilences have been interpreted as divine punishment. Christian Italian society saw the plague as God's response to human weakness, inserting even the worst calamity into the providential plan of God. It is not surprising then, that remedies to avoid the contagion listed medical advises together with spiritual remedies, such as repentance and prayer to saints for placating God’s wrath.

Images originating from the expicommission and offering was a powerful instrument in the negotiation with the divine forces. Artworks representing Christ, the Virgin Mary and specific plague-saints, such as Saint Sebastian and Saint Roch, were believed pragmatic and effective solution for intimating supernatural aid in overcoming an epidemic or preventing a future one.