Portret van paus Pius VI 1782

Johann Ernst Mansfeld’s 1782 engraving, "Portret van paus Pius VI," depicts the Pope in profile, adorned in papal regalia. The engraving features a complex composition, with the Pope’s portrait framed by a circular laurel wreath and surrounded by books and symbols of papal authority. The small, detailed, and highly realistic nature of the print emphasizes the meticulous craftsmanship of the artist, Johann Ernst Mansfeld, a prominent engraver of the 18th century. This engraving is a testament to the enduring power of portraiture and the symbolic importance of the papacy in the late 18th century.