Purgatory has long been a subject of religious art. Such as this work by Italian artist, Lodovico Carracci, painted in around 1610, and part of the Vatican collection.
Carracci (1555-1619) came from an extended family of Bolognese artists whose works can be seen throughout Bologna, especially in the Palazzo Fava. As an early-Baroque painter, Lodovico was one of the first to abandon the Mannerist style (characterised by a rejection of Renaissance balance and harmony) in favour of a new kind of devotional art, rich in narrative drama and mood.
This drama is evident in his masterpiece, An Angel Frees the Souls of Purgatory.
Painted in response to the heated Protestant denial of Purgatory, the angel is seen grasping a tortured soul with one hand, dragging them into heaven to enjoy eternity with Jesus and Mary at their side.
What is important to understanding the painting, is that the angel’s other hand is pointing to St Augustine and other prominent Catholics in heaven who defended the reality of Purgatory, such as St Dominic, St Francis, and St Benedict.