Fotoreproductie van een portret van Michelangelo door Jacopino del Conte c. 1875 - 1900

This photogravure is after Jacopino del Conte's portrait of Michelangelo. Here, the anonymous photographer captures the image of a man who was at the center of High Renaissance art. Michelangelo’s era was shaped by powerful families, the Catholic Church, and shifting social structures. His rise from a modest background to artistic fame reflects the changing dynamics of Renaissance society, where talent could elevate one's status, even as class and patronage remained significant. We see in this photo after a painting the serious gaze of an older man. The weight of his experiences seems evident in his eyes. It is through images like this one that we can look at how artists were perceived at the time and continue to be seen today. What does it mean to bear witness to such artistry, to see the humanity in a master? This reproduction offers us a chance to reflect on the legacies we inherit and the stories we tell about those who shape our cultural landscape.