Portret van kardinaal Ludovico Madruzzo 1596

Dominicus Custos created this portrait of Cardinal Ludovico Madruzzo as an engraving in the late 16th century. Madruzzo’s stern gaze and formal attire reflect the hierarchical structure of the Catholic Church during the Counter-Reformation. Made in the context of the religious and political tensions of the Holy Roman Empire, the print embodies the way that powerful families used portraiture to publicly project their influence and authority. The Latin text surrounding the portrait emphasizes Madruzzo's virtues and importance within the church. He was, among other things, an important figure at the Council of Trent, a key event in the Catholic Church's response to the Protestant Reformation. To fully understand this image, we might consult archives of the Madruzzo family, records of the Catholic Church, and studies of the printmaking industry of the period. The social and institutional context is crucial to understanding the portrait's role as a statement of power and a piece of religious propaganda.