Portret van Saverio Landolina 1775 - 1840

This is Ernst Ludwig Riepenhausen’s portrait of Saverio Landolina, an engraving made sometime before the artist’s death in 1840. Landolina was from Syracuse and a Knight of Devotion in the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem. Riepenhausen’s portrait situates Landolina within a very specific social and historical context, referencing a network of power, nobility, and religious dedication. The Latin inscription details Landolina’s identity, which would have resonated with the elite class of the time. This work captures the era’s emphasis on lineage and status, yet it simultaneously reveals a complex interplay between identity and representation. The portrait not only immortalizes Landolina as an individual but also speaks to broader questions about how society chooses to commemorate its members. It invites us to consider the values and structures that underpin these acts of preservation. This isn’t just a picture of a man; it's a snapshot of a world defined by hierarchy and tradition.