Fotoreproductie van een prent door Edelinck van een portret van Baldassarre Castiglione door Rafaël before 1869

This is a photographic reproduction made by Joseph Cundall of a print by Edelinck, itself based on Raphael's portrait of Baldassarre Castiglione. Looking at this image, we can see the way artistic fame operates across centuries and media. Raphael, an Italian Renaissance painter, created the original portrait, solidifying Castiglione’s status through his artistic skill. Then, a printmaker like Edelinck translated this painting into a more reproducible form, extending its reach. Finally, in 19th century England, Cundall used photography to reproduce Edelinck’s print, further democratizing the image and attesting to Raphael's enduring cultural capital. Consider the role of institutions in this process: museums preserving the original painting, print shops enabling reproduction, and photography studios creating copies. By studying these images, along with archival material about the art market, we gain a richer understanding of how taste and artistic reputation are constructed and maintained through time.