San Carlo Borromeo Giving Last Communion to Victims of the Plague
1724
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1724
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This etching shows a crowded scene with people climbing rocky steps toward a church. At the top, a figure in robes holds a cross high, while others below reach up toward him. The background has a staircase and a building with columns, and small angels float above the crowd. The artist packed the scene with drama—every face looks urgent, and the rough lines make it feel chaotic. This kind of busy, emotional storytelling was common in the Baroque period. Next, look up Baroque to see why artists used this style to pull you into the action.
![Jacob and Rebecca before Isaac [recto]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/5393ee8d0dceb48c/thumb.webp)
