Portret van Tiberio Deciano 1682

Edme de Boulonois made this print of Tiberio Deciano. During the 16th century, portraiture was a powerful tool for shaping public image and reinforcing social hierarchies, and this print is no different. Look at Deciano's fur-trimmed robes, chain, and the book inscribed with his name. These are all visual markers of status and authority. Deciano was a prominent jurist and professor of law. As such, he played a vital role in shaping the legal and intellectual landscape of his time. Prints like this circulated amongst a relatively small group of educated elites in Europe, who were interested in the humanist revival of classical learning. This was a period where universities were gaining in power. It was also the time when we began to see the emergence of the printing press, which enabled the wider circulation of books and images. To really understand this print, we could dive into archival sources relating to Deciano's life and career, examining his writings, legal cases, and social networks. By doing so, we can gain a richer appreciation of the complex interplay between art, power, and social change in early modern Europe.