Portret van Camilla Martelli 1740 - 1807

Filippo Morghen created this portrait of Camilla Martelli as an engraving in the late 18th century. It offers insight into the cultural and political role of portraiture in representing the nobility of the time. Camilla Martelli was the mistress, and later the wife, of Cosimo I de Medici, the Grand Duke of Tuscany. The image presents Martelli framed by an elaborate oval wreath and decorative motifs, imbuing her with an aura of classical nobility. The inscriptions and heraldic elements further emphasize her elevated status within Florentine society. This portrait highlights the complex interplay between personal identity, political power, and social perception. By studying the visual codes employed in this portrait, we can better understand the social conditions that shaped artistic production and the politics of imagery during this period in Italy. Detailed studies of the Medici family archives, as well as analyses of Florentine court culture, can illuminate the institutional context in which Morghen’s print was created.