Portret van Giuseppe Aurelio di Gennaro 1702 - 1773

Antonio Baldi made this portrait print of Giuseppe Aurelio di Gennaro sometime in the 18th century. Its very existence tells us something about the social role of art and portraiture in particular. This image creates meaning through visual codes that would have been very recognizable at the time. Take the oval frame, which presents the subject as if he were a classical bust. The wig and clothing are of their period, yet the overall impression is one of timeless dignity. It’s important to remember that portraiture like this wasn’t just about capturing a likeness; it was about constructing and communicating social status. By commissioning and circulating images like this, the sitter asserted their place in society. Baldi, as the artist, was participating in a system of patronage that helped to maintain that social order. To understand this image more fully, we might look to sources like genealogical records or period publications. Art, after all, never exists in a vacuum.