Pope Saint Gregory I Frees the Souls from Purgatory with His Prayers

Art Historical Context

This striking etching, titledPope Saint Gregory I Frees Souls from Purgatory with Prayers*, captures a pivotal moment in Catholic legend from 1731. Attributed to Eugène Feyen-Perrin alongside Venetian Baroque masters Sebastiano Ricci (1659–1734) and Francesco Fontebasso1707–1769), it likely reproduces a dynamic composition by Ricci or Fontebasso, known for their dramatic religious scenes blending grandeur with emotional intensity. Pope Gregory I, a 6th-century reformer and of the Church, is interceding for tormented souls, a motif rooted in medieval visions of purgatory popularized during the Counter-Reformation to emphasize prayer's redemptive power. The artwork's Rococo-Baroque style shines through in its swirling figures and ethereal light, evoking divine intervention amid suffering. As an etching— a precise intaglio technique using acid to bite intricate lines into a metal plate—it allowed for rich tonal contrasts and reproducible detail, making such devotional imagery accessible beyond grand altarpieces. Printed on a trimmed sheet measuring 18¼ × 12¼ inches, it reflects 18th-century print culture's role in spreading faith and artistry. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Elisha Whittelsey Collection, 1953), this piece invites reflection on how art bridged theology and the everyday, comforting believers with hope of salvation.

About the Artist

Eugène Feyen-Perrin|Francesco Fontebasso|Sebastiano Ricci (French|Italian|Italian) · 1815 |1707 |1659 –1908 |1769 |1734

French, Bey-sur-Seille 1815–1908 Bey-sur-Seille|Italian, Venice 1707–1769 Venice|Italian, Belluno 1659–1734 Venice