Portret van kardinaal Francesco Albizzi 1658

This is a print made by Giuseppe Maria Testana in 1654. It depicts Cardinal Francesco Albizzi. Prints like these played an important role in the visual culture of seventeenth-century Europe. The print presents Albizzi as an important figure, framing him within an oval border and including the symbols of his office in the upper corners. Albizzi was a powerful figure in the Catholic Church, and prints like this helped to circulate his image and reinforce his authority. They were often commissioned by the sitter themselves in order to proliferate their image. To understand this image more fully, we might want to investigate the history of the Catholic Church in the 17th century, the role of cardinals, and the Albizzi family. Research into the printmaking industry would also reveal the ways in which images were produced and disseminated at this time. By looking at the wider social and institutional context, we can begin to understand the complex meanings of this portrait.