Portret van Ermenegildo Pera 1682

This is a portrait of Ermenegildo Pera, made in the 17th century by Martial Desbois. Pera was a professor of theoretical medicine, and this print was likely commissioned to celebrate or commemorate his academic position. In the Dutch Republic at this time, the universities were important centers for intellectual and social life. Positions like Pera's were often patronage appointments, so this image would have circulated among a select group of educated elites. Desbois' print offers us a glimpse into the hierarchies of knowledge and power in the Dutch Golden Age. We might ask what this image tells us about the role of science and medicine in legitimizing social status at this time. To answer that question, we can consult archival records from Dutch universities, as well as collections of prints and drawings from the period. These resources would allow us to better understand the place of figures like Pera, and artists like Desbois, in the cultural landscape of the 17th century.