Paolus Qualiatus Clodianus 1623

Ottavio Leoni created this engraving titled, “Paolus Qualiatus Clodianus,” in 1623. It captures the likeness of a presumably important, if now obscure, figure of 17th century Rome. Leoni was part of the Accademia di San Luca, an association of artists in Rome. He was a portraitist who moved in the circles of the Roman elite, from cardinals to popes. Here, the sitter’s gaze is direct and scrutinizing, as if he knows his own self-importance. The trappings of his high social position are on display. The formal collar and cape signal his elite status. Without further historical research, it’s hard to know exactly who Clodianus was, and what role he played in the Rome of his day. The social historian can use images like this as sources of information to reconstruct a broader picture of the individuals and institutions that shaped the culture of the era. The history of art is dependent on the history of social life.