Portret van kardinaal Giacomo Rospigliosi c. 1668 - 1697

This is Richard Collin’s portrait of Cardinal Giacomo Rospigliosi, an engraving on paper, made in the late 17th century. The symmetrical design, with its circular wreath framing the Cardinal, gives it a formal and balanced appearance. Angels playing trumpets fill the upper quadrants and cherubic figures cling to the garland. The engraving’s meticulous detail creates a dense tapestry of textures and tones. The Cardinal’s serene gaze projects power, further emphasized by the Latin inscriptions weaving through the composition. The choice of Latin elevates the subject, linking him to the historical and intellectual authority of the Roman Catholic Church. The semiotic system at play merges religious iconography with symbols of power, challenging viewers to decode its complex interplay of faith and authority. The tension between earthly portraiture and heavenly symbolism questions fixed meanings, engaging viewers with new ways of thinking about representation. It invites us to consider how form enhances meaning, weaving faith, power, and representation into a complex visual discourse.