Allegory of Joseph II’s ecclesiastical policy [Miraculous Catch of Fish]

Satirical pamphlet from the 18th century, ridiculing the secularisation of monasteries in Austria under Emperor Joseph II. A kind of allegory of the emperor's ecclesiastical policy.

Engraved by C. J. Mettenleitner from a subject by Sebastian Mansfeld (1751-1816) and printed in Vienna in 1782.

Joseph II of Habsburg, son and successor of Maria Theresa of Habsburg (1717-1780) was Emperor from 1780. His policy towards the Catholic Church caused a great stir, conducted in an effort not only to subject the clergy to state control, but also to establish direct state intervention in the spiritual sphere with a view to simplifying devotions (sermons, Masses, processions). Such was the sense of the decrees by which entire religious orders were dissolved because they were deemed useless to society, many clergy privileges were abolished and several religious festivities suppressed, the number of processions reduced, the worship of relics banned and the entire ceremonial apparatus simplified. In 1781 Joseph II issued an Edict of Tolerance in which he granted freedom of worship to Protestant and Greek Orthodox subjects and granted Jews, hitherto discriminated against, the same rights as all other subjects. It was an event of revolutionary significance because religious tolerance became a rule of law for the first time in Europe.

Beautiful proof, printed on contemporary laid paper, trimmed to the copperplate, traces of glue on verso, otherwise in very good condition. Very rare.

Bibliografia

Werner Telesko, Graphic Prints of the Josephine Period (1765/1790) and the Propaganda of ‘Religious Tolerance’, p. 106, n. 3.