Portret van kardinaal Giacomo Lanfredini c. 1750 - 1800

This portrait of Cardinal Giacomo Lanfredini was produced as an engraving by Nicolo Billy in the 18th century. Its appearance is entirely dependent on the matrix from which it was printed, most likely a copper plate. The engraver would have used a variety of specialized tools to incise lines into the plate’s surface; these would hold the ink, and define the image when printed. Look closely, and you can see the dense hatching that models the Cardinal’s face and garments, and also provides a tonal ground for the lettering. Notice also the coats of arms at top left and right, rendered with graphic precision. The engraving technique is itself rich with social significance. It was a reproductive technology, not unlike photography today, and was used to disseminate images widely and relatively cheaply. The very concept of reproducibility raises issues of labor, politics, and consumption, underscoring that even in works like this, supposedly dedicated to the realm of the spirit, materials and making are of central importance.