Portret van kardinaal Pedro de Salazar Gutiérrez de Toledo 1686 - 1698

Jacques Blondeau made this print of Cardinal Pedro de Salazar Gutiérrez de Toledo, likely in Rome, toward the end of the 17th century. The portrait is framed by the Cardinal’s coat of arms, as well as that of the Pope. The image uses the visual language of power. The Cardinal’s attire marks him as a man of the church, while the inscription below the image makes it clear he is also a man of high rank. The coat of arms and Latin inscription are visual codes of power. Spain at this time still had significant influence in Europe and exerted that power through the Church. Historical sources like Papal records, books of heraldry, and biographies, would allow us to more deeply understand the Cardinal's life and how he acquired his status, to better interpret this print. The social and institutional contexts give this image its meaning.