Fotoreproductie van een tekening naar het portret van Girolamo Savonarola door Fra Bartolomeo before 1860

This is a photographic reproduction of a drawing after a portrait of Girolamo Savonarola. The original drawing was by Fra Bartolomeo, but the photographer is unknown. Savonarola was a Dominican friar active in Florence during the Renaissance. It is useful to see this image in the context of late nineteenth century Europe. Photography made images widely available. They were printed in books and journals for mass consumption. The aura of the original artwork was lost. Savonarola’s story also resonated in this period. He had challenged the corruption of the Catholic Church from within, leading to his execution in 1498. By the 1800s, with the rise of modern historical scholarship, Savonarola's history was re-evaluated. In some circles, he was seen as a martyr, willing to challenge the power of institutions. The social and institutional history of art is dependent on such interpretations. Resources like letters, diaries, financial records, and journalistic accounts are invaluable in understanding the context in which the artwork was made and the image was received.