Portret van Ermes Visconti 1625 - 1669

This is Giovanni Battista Bonacina's "Portret van Ermes Visconti," an engraving on paper, now at the Rijksmuseum. The composition is dominated by the oval frame, within which Visconti is depicted in meticulous detail. The texture of his armor and the ruff around his neck contrast with the smoother background curtain. Bonacina uses line and form to construct a visual hierarchy, drawing our eye first to Visconti's face, then down his armored body. The lines create shading and texture that give depth and weight to the figure, and the way the light reflects of the armor gives the image a sense of movement. The choice of an oval frame and the detailed rendering of Visconti's attire situate this portrait within a tradition of formal representation, yet the dynamic use of line also hints at a move towards more expressive modes of portraiture. The artwork challenges the fixed meanings associated with portraiture by engaging with both tradition and innovation.