Portret van Aubertus van den Eede 1710 - 1725

Jan Baptist Jongelinx created this print of Aubertus van den Eede, Bishop of Antwerp, sometime around the early 18th century. Note how the image functions as a carefully constructed display of power and status. Consider the visual codes: the oval frame, the heraldic shield, and the Latin inscription, all framing a portrait of a religious figure, a member of one of the most powerful institutions of the period. This isn't just a picture; it's a carefully crafted message, reinforcing Van den Eede’s authority and legitimacy. This was made in Antwerp, part of the Spanish Netherlands at the time, and the image would reinforce the power of the church in a society still healing from the religious conflicts of the previous century. To fully understand this portrait, we must look at the history of the Catholic Church in the region, the role of the Bishopric of Antwerp, and even the conventions of portraiture at the time. Art history isn't just about aesthetics; it's about understanding the social and institutional forces that shape artistic production.