Portretbuste van Andrea Palladio omgeven door personificaties van Tijd, Faam en Wijsheid 1716

This is Bernard Picart's engraving of Andrea Palladio, made in the early 18th century, a period marked by the Enlightenment's emphasis on reason and classical ideals. Here, Palladio, the celebrated Renaissance architect, is immortalized through allegory, with personifications of Time, Fame, and Wisdom attending to his bust. But let’s consider, who gets to be deified in art and history? Palladio's architecture, rooted in classical forms, was itself a statement of power and order, often serving the elite. Picart’s print reinforces a hierarchy, celebrating Palladio within a visual language that equates artistic achievement with timeless virtues. The racial and gendered politics of representation are palpable; classical virtues are coded as white and male, reinforcing established societal norms. The emotional impact lies in the ambition of the image - to elevate Palladio to an almost mythical status, a figure whose influence transcends time. Yet, we might also reflect on whose stories remain untold in this grand narrative.