Profile Portrait of Bishop Antonius Campanus of Agram (Zagreb) 1470 - 1529

This is a portrait of Bishop Antonius Campanus of Agram, made with black and red chalk, heightened with white chalk, on gray-blue paper by an anonymous French artist. The profile view itself is a powerful symbol, evoking classical antiquity and the tradition of Roman portraiture, signaling authority and intellect. Like the Roman busts of emperors, Bishop Antonius is captured with a sense of timelessness. This artistic choice revives the Roman tradition that gives the sitter an air of wisdom and power. The bishop’s simple garments seem deliberately chosen. We might recall the stark robes of monks in earlier medieval art, connecting this figure to a lineage of devotion and humility. This juxtaposition—classical form with modest attire—creates a visual tension. It echoes through centuries, reminding us how symbols are never fixed but evolve through time and cultural memory. This image quietly resonates with the weight of history.