Portret van kardinaal Paolo Savelli 1664 - 1685

This is an engraving of Cardinal Paolo Savelli, made by Conrad Lauwers in the mid-17th century. The portrait is rendered with crisp lines, achieved by incising an image into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The graphic quality of the engraving lends the image a sense of formality and precision, in keeping with the Cardinal’s status. The dense cross-hatching creates a tonal range that models Savelli's features and clothing. You can almost feel the weight of his garments and the texture of his hair. Engraving like this was a skilled craft, demanding years of training to master the techniques of line-making and shading. It also offered a way to disseminate images widely. This portrait wasn't just a work of art; it was a piece of visual propaganda, reinforcing Savelli's power and influence in the Catholic Church. By appreciating the process of its making, we can understand the image as a product of both artistic skill and social purpose.