Portret van Jaime Antonio Ferduzzi, 47ste Minister Generaal van de franciscaner orde 1710 - 1738

This is a print made by Antonio Luciani depicting Jaime Antonio Ferduzzi, the 47th Minister-General of the Franciscan Order. Though undated, Luciani was active in the first half of the 18th century. The image is framed by elaborate Baroque flourishes of text and design, all working to convey Ferduzzi's importance and piety. The text is in Latin and describes his various roles within the church. It details that he administered his church for twelve years and that he died and was buried in the Cathedral. This print is a window into the hierarchical world of the Catholic Church in the 1700s. It reflects the power and influence wielded by religious orders at that time and points to the way art served to reinforce these structures of authority. To better understand this, we can consult historical records of the Franciscan Order, as well as biographical information about Ferduzzi. We can also study the conventions of portraiture used at this time to further appreciate the ways in which this image reflects the values and concerns of its cultural moment.