Fotoreproductie van een prent, voorstellende een portret van Fra Bartolommeo before 1890

This is a photogravure reproduction of a portrait of Fra Bartolommeo. Although the artist remains anonymous, the image evokes the world of the Italian Renaissance and the place of religious figures within it. Fra Bartolommeo was himself a significant figure in the cultural landscape of Florence. We see here a man framed by his religious identity. The monk's habit cloaks his body. Notice how the tonality of the print lends a certain gravity to his gaze, a gaze which meets the viewer's directly. His right hand gestures outwards, as if in discourse. This portrait invites us to consider the historical context of religious identity and its visual representation. How does the image negotiate the boundaries between the individual and the institution, the personal and the public? It raises questions about the role of portraiture in shaping historical memory and cultural values. The portrait not only captures an individual likeness, but also invites reflection on the broader social and spiritual landscape that defined Fra Bartolommeo's world.