Reproductie van een prent van een portret van Alexander Farnese en een prent van een portret van Matthias van Oostenrijk, vermoedelijk door Niccolò Nelli before 1880

This undated print reproduces portraits of Alexander Farnese and Matthias of Austria, possibly by Niccolò Nelli. Consider the power dynamics at play here. Farnese, a key figure in the Spanish Habsburg army, and Matthias, a Habsburg archduke, represent the elite ruling class of 16th-century Europe. These portraits, framed in decorative ovals, speak to the visual language of power and nobility. Note the armor they wear; it’s not just protection, but a symbol of their status and military might. Their portraits would have circulated among the elite, reinforcing their authority, and shaping their public image. The anonymous nature of the artist raises questions about authorship and artistic labor. Was the artist a craftsman employed to reproduce these images, or was there another reason they weren't named? This print offers a glimpse into the ways images were used to construct and disseminate power in a world undergoing profound political and religious upheaval.