Title Page with Portrait of Viceroy of Naples n.d.

Francesco Solimena created this title page with portrait of Viceroy of Naples using pen and brown ink with brown wash on cream laid paper. The symmetrical design and the monochromatic palette immediately draw the eye to the idealized portrait of the Viceroy, encircled by angels in the upper register. Solimena uses allegorical figures arranged in a carefully constructed hierarchy, reflecting Baroque ideals. Below, we see representations of artistic skill—painting and sculpture—paying homage. The use of light and shadow enhances the voluminous forms, while the controlled lines define the composition. The work operates on multiple symbolic levels. Its complex network of signs and symbols can be seen within the historical context as visual rhetoric—legitimizing power through allegorical representation and artistic virtuosity. But beyond its immediate function, the artwork poses enduring questions about the role of art as a vehicle for constructing and conveying political messages.