Buste van Balthasar Moretus III before 1897

This is an undated, anonymous bust of Balthasar Moretus the third, of the famed Plantin-Moretus publishing dynasty in Antwerp. The Moretus family was a pillar of the early modern printing world, navigating the treacherous waters of religious and political upheaval. This image encapsulates not just the likeness of Balthasar, but the weight of lineage and legacy. Note the classical Roman lettering that encircles his portrait, and the emblems of power and knowledge that adorn the cartouche: a printer's mark is flanked by heraldic devices. During this period, such visual representations were tools for crafting and controlling identity, particularly for those in positions of power. Balthasar's portrait, rendered in stone, projects an image of steadfastness and authority. Yet, there is a tension here. Balthasar, in his role as head of the press, was responsible for disseminating information and shaping public discourse amidst intense religious conflict. The choice to immortalize him in this way speaks volumes about his position in a society on the cusp of modernity, where the printed word was both a weapon and a means of survival.