Portret van Caesar Baronius in zijn studeerkamer 1564 - 1654

This is Jaspar de Isaac's print, made without a specified date, showing Cardinal Caesar Baronius in his study. Isaac, who died in 1654, captures the cardinal amidst the tools of his scholarship, surrounded by books and writing implements. Baronius was a prominent figure in the Catholic Church during a tumultuous period marked by the Reformation and Counter-Reformation. His extensive writings, particularly his "Ecclesiastical Annals," sought to defend the authority of the papacy and counter Protestant interpretations of history. Isaac’s work then, operates as a piece of propaganda, idealizing the Cardinal as a man of both piety and intellect. Consider the power dynamics at play: Baronius, an influential clergyman shaping religious doctrine; Isaac, the artist, interpreting and conveying this figure to the masses. This portrait isn't just an image of an individual; it's a carefully constructed statement about institutional power, faith, and historical narrative. It asks us to consider how leaders are made, and who benefits from it.