Portret van econoom en historicus Bernardo Davanzati 1755 - 1805

This is Gaetano Vascellini’s portrait of Bernardo Davanzati, created around the late 18th century. Immediately, the figure's robust presence is striking, framed against a neutrally-toned background. Vascellini’s use of hatching and cross-hatching to model form creates a captivating interplay of light and shadow. Davanzati is depicted with a book, an attribute of his scholarly profession, but it is his gaze that commands our attention. It's an expression that seems to engage the viewer directly, yet it's mediated through the formal structure of the portrait. The precise details of the fur collar contrast against the etched lines of the face, drawing attention to the material realities of representation. In this context, the portrait becomes more than a mere likeness, it serves as a signifier of status, intellect, and historical significance. The work invites us to question how such formal structures shape our understanding of both the sitter and the world they inhabit.