Penning met het portret van paus Alexander VII 1730

This etching by Bernard Picart, dating from 1730, is a portrait of Pope Alexander VII. The etching depicts the Pope's head and shoulders in profile, surrounded by a circular inscription that reads "ALEXAN. VII. PONT. MAX. A. III." The inscription, which identifies the Pope and his pontificate, is enclosed in a beaded frame and positioned against a patterned background. The engraving is a powerful example of the use of line and shading to create a realistic portrait, capturing the details of the Pope's features and the texture of his robes. This work, now located at the Rijksmuseum, is an important example of early 18th-century portrait engraving.