Portret van Benedictus XIV c. 1783

This is a portrait of Benedict XIV, made by Pierre Jean Baptiste Bradel using engraving. Engraving is an intaglio printmaking process, where the image is incised into a plate, traditionally made of copper. Look closely, and you’ll notice that the lines are very crisp, as if drawn with a precise instrument. In fact, that’s exactly what happened: the artist used a tool called a burin to carve directly into the metal. The plate is then inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the engraved lines. High pressure is then used to transfer the ink onto paper, creating the print. This process requires intense concentration and skilled labor, a mark of quality in pre-industrial production. Engravings like this played an important role in disseminating images and ideas, making them accessible to a wider audience. This particular print is part of a long history of portraiture, but its reliance on mechanical reproduction also anticipates the age of mass media. So, in understanding this print, we can appreciate both the artistry involved, and the cultural context that made it possible.