Portret van Innocentius XII 1691 - 1695

Gaspar Bouttats created this portrait of Innocentius the 12th as an engraving. The image is dominated by the oval frame that encloses the Pope’s likeness, setting up a formal structure that echoes the rigid conventions of portraiture during this period. The tight composition focuses our attention on the Pope's face, rendered with meticulous detail through fine lines, revealing a stern expression. Bouttats’s technique in the engraving process calls attention to the contrasts between light and shadow to model the Pope's features and clothing. The hatching and cross-hatching create areas of visual weight, particularly in the garments, which adds depth and texture. The inscription and heraldic symbols at the bottom ground the portrait in a specific historical context, reinforcing the authority and identity of the subject. The formal qualities of this portrait – its structured composition, controlled lines, and detailed rendering – speak to the cultural values of the time, where image was carefully constructed to convey power and status. As viewers, we see not just a person, but a representation of papal authority, meticulously crafted and presented.