Portret van toneelschrijver Carlo Goldoni 19th century

Antonio Locatelli created this print of playwright Carlo Goldoni, and it now resides in the Rijksmuseum. Oval portraiture, as seen here, is a classical form of portraiture, with the oval frame connoting containment and control. This style harkens back to ancient Roman portrait busts, where the oval or circular shape symbolized completeness and the eternal nature of the individual's legacy. Consider, for instance, the recurrence of this motif in Renaissance medallions or Baroque portrait miniatures. Over time, the oval format was revived during the Renaissance as a symbol of humanism, emphasizing the individual within a contained, knowable world. It is almost as if the sitter is an object of scientific study, carefully framed for observation and analysis. The psychological effect is compelling; the framed figure seems both accessible and distant, inviting scrutiny while maintaining a sense of dignified reserve. This is a prime example of how forms resonate through history, carrying layers of meaning that continuously reshape our perception.