Marcello Provenzale 1623

Ottavio Leoni's 1623 engraving, "Marcello Provenzale," portrays the subject in a bust-length portrait with a detailed, almost photographic, rendering of his clothing and facial features. The engraving is presented within an octagonal frame and is characteristic of Leoni's style, which combined precision with a heightened sense of realism. Leoni, known for his portraiture, was a prominent figure in the Roman art scene during the early 17th century. This engraving is an example of his mastery of the printmaking technique, capturing the sitter's likeness with a level of detail that was unusual for the time. The inscription on the engraving identifies Provenzale as the "Inventor of the New Fashion" (noui modi conic).