Abbot Antonio Niccolini c. 1725

Pier Leone Ghezzi rendered Abbot Antonio Niccolini in ink on paper. Ghezzi worked during the late Baroque period. During this period, caricature became a popular art form, particularly in Rome, where Ghezzi lived and worked. Caricatures, like this one, functioned as social commentaries. They often depicted recognizable figures from the aristocracy or clergy in exaggerated or humorous ways. This image may strike us as amusing because of the Abbot's exaggerated features, and unflattering presentation. But what does it mean to poke fun at a man of the cloth? How might the image have been received by different viewers? This work invites us to consider the power dynamics inherent in representation. Ghezzi's caricature both reflects and shapes societal attitudes toward power and status. It also touches on the personal, capturing a moment of human imperfection.