Portret van Leon Battista Alberti 1549 - 1577

This anonymous portrait captures Leon Battista Alberti in ink on paper. Alberti's profile, framed by an ornamental border, invites us to consider the enduring fascination with the Renaissance man. Note the way Alberti is portrayed in profile, reminiscent of ancient Roman portraiture, evoking ideals of humanism. This echoes classical busts and coins, presenting the individual as a figure of intellectual authority. Consider, though, how classical motifs resurface in later eras, transformed by new cultural contexts. What was once a symbol of imperial power becomes a celebration of individual achievement during the Renaissance. The ornamental frame itself, with its stylized foliage, reflects a broader interest in nature and classical design. The act of framing, of isolating the individual, speaks to our subconscious desire to immortalize and understand exceptional figures. This image has been carried through time, to resurface and be reborn, with its impact changed by new cultural contexts.