S. Carlo Borromeo - Benedetto Bordiga

A detailed engraving by Benedetto Bordiga depicting Saint Charles Borromeo in a moment of ascetic devotion and prayer.

This engraving by Benedetto Bordiga depicts Saint Charles Borromeo, the sixteenth-century Archbishop of Milan, in a moment of solitary devotion. The composition focuses on the saint seated at a modest table, his posture suggesting deep contemplation or prayer. He holds a handkerchief to his face, a gesture that conveys his internal struggle and humility. Before him lies an open book, a simple loaf of bread, and a carafe, items that reflect the ascetic lifestyle associated with his tenure during the Counter-Reformation.

In the background, two figures observe the saint from a doorway, their presence adding a narrative layer to the scene. To the right, a crucifix stands upon a draped table, reinforcing the religious context of the interior. The artist employs precise line work to define the textures of the ecclesiastical robes, the wooden furniture, and the subtle shadows within the room. The overall tone is one of quiet austerity, characteristic of the period's interest in historical and religious subjects rendered with clarity and restraint.

Bordiga, an Italian engraver active in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, demonstrates a mastery of tonal variation through hatching and cross-hatching techniques. The Latin inscription at the base, taken from Psalm 102, translates to: My tears have been my bread day and night, and I have mingled my drink with weeping. This text provides the thematic key to the image, connecting the visual representation of the saint to the scriptural lamentation. The print serves as a formal study of piety, executed with the technical rigour expected of professional printmaking in the early nineteenth century. It remains a clear example of how religious iconography was disseminated through the medium of engraving to a wider audience during this era.