Portret van Jean de la Valette, grootmeester van de Orde van Malta 1567 - 1569

This print of Jean de la Valette, grand master of the Order of Malta, was created in 1567 by Domenico Zenoi. Look closely, and you can see the fine lines etched into the metal plate that produced this image. Zenoi’s technique allowed for the meticulous rendering of textures: the gleam of La Valette’s armor, the plushness of his beard, and the elaborate ornamentation that surrounds him. Engraving like this was not just a means of artistic expression, but also a technology, allowing for the mass production of images. The level of detail seen here speaks to the engraver's skill. Consider the time and labor invested in creating each plate, and then multiplying it across potentially hundreds of prints. These images circulated widely, and are a testament to the increasingly sophisticated networks of production and consumption in the 16th century. We are reminded that art is always connected to broader economies of skill, labor, and value.