Portrait of a Cardinal (Alessandro Peretti Montalto?) 

Ottavio Leoni made this portrait of a cardinal, possibly Alessandro Peretti Montalto, using black and white chalk on paper. This isn't bronze, marble, or oil paint, the materials we might expect for portraying someone of high status in the 17th century. Leoni's choice of chalk on paper is significant. The immediacy of the medium allowed for quick, direct sketches, making it ideal for capturing a likeness efficiently. The texture of the paper and the way the chalk sits on its surface give the portrait a soft, almost intimate quality. The drawing feels accessible, less formal. The ease and relative low cost of chalk and paper compared to traditional portraiture materials suggests a shift in artistic practice, perhaps influenced by a growing market for art beyond the elite. Leoni was known for his portraits, and his choice of materials democratizes the process, making portraiture more accessible both to the artist and possibly to a wider range of patrons. This challenges the established hierarchies of art and patronage.