Portret van Federico da Montefeltro 1549 - 1575

Curator: This is a print dating roughly from 1549 to 1575, titled "Portrait of Federico da Montefeltro." The artist is unknown, but we know that it is an engraving. Editor: The first thing that strikes me is the detail of the lines, considering it's an engraving. You can almost feel the coldness of the metal of the armor. Curator: Yes, the detail is impressive. It presents Montefeltro, a prominent Renaissance figure, in a classic heroic pose. These types of portraits were integral in crafting a specific image, solidifying power through controlled likenesses, especially as prints allowed wider circulation and visibility of specific persona. Editor: I'm fascinated by how this image was made. The engraving process itself demanded skill. It involves carving lines into a metal plate, which is then inked to produce a reverse image. It is not necessarily easy labor to produce these fine details which could be seen as the artistic and artisan labor valued during the renaissance. Curator: The Italian Renaissance cultivated powerful rulers and patrons of the arts, who used artworks to assert their power through portraiture and symbolism. It highlights an idealized representation of their place within a strict social hierarchy, it isn’t necessarily a photograph. Editor: It does prompt you to think about value of the printed image in society. Engravings like this allowed for reproducibility which could potentially spread the images and, by extension, the patron's message, wider than any painting might. Did such artworks transform images of power and hierarchy into commodities that were then distributed? Curator: Indeed. This print shows how potent a tool the "engraved image" could be. Editor: So while appearing formal it does raise very complex material, labour and social conditions of the Renaissance era. It leaves me thinking about who made this, how many copies were struck, and who eventually saw it.