Portret van Albert Pigge 1682

This is Edme de Boulonois's portrait of Albert Pigge. The portrait invites us to consider the intricate relationship between religious identity, intellectual authority, and artistic representation. Albert Pigge was a controversial figure during the Reformation. His staunch defense of Catholic doctrine positioned him against the rising tide of Protestant thought. Boulonois's engraving not only captures Pigge's physical likeness, but also conveys his intellectual gravitas and commitment to his beliefs. During this period of religious conflict, portraits were powerful tools for shaping perceptions and solidifying identities. The choice to depict Pigge in profile, framed within an oval, lends the image a sense of classical authority and timelessness. The inscription below the portrait further reinforces Pigge's identity as a man of learning and piety. Consider the ways in which this portrait reflects and reinforces Pigge's position within the religious and intellectual landscape of his time.