Portret van Giovanni Lami 1747

Editor: Here we have Johann Martin Bernigeroth's 1747 engraving, "Portret van Giovanni Lami," housed here at the Rijksmuseum. The detail achieved with just engraving is impressive! It feels very proper, very Baroque. What catches your eye about it? Curator: What *doesn't* catch my eye! Just kidding... mostly. The interesting thing to me is how Bernigeroth captures Lami, the Florentine professor. Engravings, particularly portraits, at this time were about more than just likeness. They were about conveying status, intelligence, the subject’s whole deal. Do you see how the oval frame within a frame focuses your attention entirely on Lami’s face? Editor: Absolutely. It's like Bernigeroth is saying, "Look, *really* look at this guy!" Almost daring you to judge him based on his expression. Curator: Precisely! There is an intelligence and depth conveyed in the portrait that hints at the man's life's work, which I feel this print encapsulates effectively. But, like all good portraits, it invites you to create your own narrative about him. What do you imagine he was like? Editor: He seems serious but with a glint of humor around his eyes. Like a mischievous professor. And his long wavy hair gives him a sort of artistic flair that subverts his serious professional role. It’s such a simple artwork but I think that that tension is so brilliant. I initially considered this just a stoic historical portrait, but seeing all of this depth gives me such a greater appreciation for the Baroque style! Curator: Me too! What begins as one thing slowly morphs into something else, right?