Portret van Ferdinando II de' Medici 1645

This is an engraving of Ferdinando II de' Medici, Grand Duke of Tuscany. It was made in 1645 by an anonymous artist. Let's consider Ferdinando's portrayal in the context of 17th-century European aristocracy. The expectation for rulers was to embody power, lineage, and divine right. The portrait does this, but it also complicates these ideas. Ferdinando is in armor, yet the lace collar softens the image. A sculpted figure looms in the background, suggesting a stoic strength but also an impersonal monumentality. The image becomes an exploration of identity, of how Ferdinando is using visual cues to perform the role of the Duke. It's both a historical document and a study in constructed masculinity, raising questions about the true self versus the presented self. It captures the intricacies of portraying power.