Portret van Marco Ottoboni 1665 - 1698

This is a print of Marco Ottoboni, made by Jacques Blondeau, who died in 1698. Ottoboni was the nephew of Pope Alexander VIII, and Captain General. The image is interesting as a piece of social propaganda. Consider the ways in which the Pope used nepotism to advance his family’s interests. Notice the trappings of power: the elaborate wig and lace collar, and the family crest. The print would have been a way to circulate Ottoboni’s image and promote the family’s status. What does it mean to turn the Pope’s family into a brand? We can think about the history of the papacy as an institution, and consider the ways in which families like the Ottoboni sought to consolidate their power through visual media. For more information, consult primary source documents and secondary scholarship on the history of the papacy and Baroque Rome.