The Mass of Saint Gregory
Simon Frisius
c. 1615
Medium
Etching on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed): 38.8 × 54.2 cm (15 5/16 × 21 3/8 in.)
Classification
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
264875
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
According to Christian legend, while celebrating Mass, Pope Gregory I prayed for a sign to convince a doubting congregant about transubstantiation—the belief that the consecrated bread and wine are the flesh and blood of Jesus, a central tenet of the Catholic faith. Here, Christ is shown miraculously appearing above the altar at right, in front of Gregory kneeling amid his startled congregation. Although the original model for the print is lost, an inscription on the plate notes that Simon Frisi...