Portret van Alexander de Imola c. 1597 - 1599

Theodor de Bry made this portrait of Alexander de Imola as an engraving. De Bry was one of the most important publishers of his day. The success of his print shop depended on images that could communicate across linguistic barriers, often by way of a shared classical culture. The image shows the lawyer Alexander Tartagni framed by an oval which contains his name, the Latin phrase "I.C.", standing for Juris Consultus, and the addition ‘Imolensis,’ designating his home town of Imola, Italy. The inscription at the bottom tells us that Tartagni lectured on law in Bologna, and bore an eternal name of honor. As a cultural historian, I find such inscriptions invaluable as primary sources. Along with student records and legal publications, these images help us to understand how men like Tartagni contributed to shaping the institutions of law that underpin society.