Portret van Guidobald von Thun und Hohenstein 1667 - 1672

This print portrays Guidobald von Thun und Hohenstein, and was made by Matthias van Sommer. This portrait creates meaning through visual codes which place the subject within the Catholic Church and also associates him with wealth and power. It's important to remember the cultural context in which this was made; religion and the Church played a central role in European society. By visually associating the subject with the Church through his dress and adornments, the artist speaks to his importance in that society. The books behind him also suggest learning and knowledge, further cementing his status. As historians, to truly understand an artwork like this we might look at other images of important church figures. We could also look into the history of the Catholic Church in that region, finding out what role it played in people's lives, how it accumulated wealth, and how its leaders were portrayed. Art always exists within a social context, and it is up to us to unearth those layers of meaning.