Venetiaanse vrouw met sieraden en lange sluier voor een gordijn c. 1591s - 1601s

This engraving of a Venetian woman was made by Giacomo Franco, who lived between 1550 and 1620. The print presents us with an image of wealth, as demonstrated by the woman’s jewellery, hair and clothing. This image can tell us a lot about the function of images at the time, and the social structures of the time, in Venice. For example, the woman’s veil may signify her piety and adherence to the church. Her hand over her chest may be a sign of her chastity. Her jewellery is evidence of the wealth of the Venetian state, which at the time was a powerful trading centre. Venice was a mercantile centre where the accumulation of riches was encouraged. The image normalizes such accumulation as it displays the spoils of empire. To understand the image fully we might look at fashion plates from the time, or moralizing literature that could shed light on the behaviour of elites. The image gives us access to the society of the time, but also serves to reproduce it.