Inquisition, Art, and Self-Censorship in the Early Modern Spanish Church, 1563–1834

Abstract

On December 3 and 4, 1563, bishops and churchmen gathered in the church of Santa Maria Maggiore for the twenty-fifth, and final, session of the Council of Trent. Among the subjects debated was the invocation and veneration of the relics of saints and the proper use of sacred images in churches. The participants were acutely aware of the scorn and ridicule in which Protestant reformers, and particularly Calvinist iconoclasts, held the religious imagery— both paintings and statues—within Catholic churches. They were also conscious of the need to police the orthodoxy of such public images with greater care in order to avoid the spread of heterodox ideas both in the Church and among the wider population: <br/>And if at times, when expedient for the unlettered people, it should happen that the facts and narratives of sacred Scripture are portrayed and represented then the people shall be taught, that the Divinity is not thereby represented as though it could be seen by the eyes of the body or be portrayed by colours or figures. Moreover, in the invocation of saints, the veneration of relics and the sacred use of images, every superstition shall be removed and all filthy lucre shall be abolished; finally, all lasciviousness shall be avoided in such ways that figures shall not be painted or adorned with a beauty exciting lust; nor shall the celebration of the saints and the visitation of relics be perverted into revelling and drunkenness by any person; as if festivals are celebrated to the honour of the saints by luxury and wantonness. In fine, let great care and diligence be used herein by bishops so that there shall be nothing seen that is disorderly, or that is unbecomingly or confusedly arranged, nothing that is profane, nothing indecorous, seeing that holiness becometh the house of God. And that these things may be the more faithfully observed, the holy synod ordains that no one shall be allowed to place, or cause to be placed any unusual image in any place, or church, howsoever exempted, except that image which has been approved of by the bishop. Also, that no new miracles are to be acknowledged, or new relics recognised, unless the said bishop has taken cognizance and approved of it. [The bishop], as soon as he has obtained some certain information in regard to these matters, shall, after having taken the advice of theologians and of other pious men, act therein as he shall judge to be consonant with truth and piety.¹