Portret van schilder Lorenzo Pasinelli 1688 - 1763

This is Cesare Giuseppe Mazzoni’s etching of the painter Lorenzo Pasinelli. Mazzoni, born in Bologna in 1678, was working in a world where artists navigated the complex social structures that shaped their opportunities. This portrait captures Pasinelli with a striking and honest gaze. The detailed lines reveal the maturity in his face, framed by the elaborate curls of his wig, typical of the period’s fashion among elite men. Mazzoni doesn’t shy away from showing Pasinelli’s age; instead, he presents the wisdom and experience of a respected artist. Portraits in this era served as statements of identity, reflecting both the subject's status and the artist's skill. Mazzoni's choice to depict Pasinelli with such directness—avoiding idealization—might be seen as a commentary on the value of authenticity versus artificiality. In a time of great social and artistic change, Mazzoni invites us to consider what it means to capture a person's true essence. The portrait becomes more than just an image; it embodies the spirit and history of its subject.