Portret van Girolama Giustiniani 1636 - 1647

Theodor Matham created this portrait of Girolama Giustiniani sometime between 1605 and 1676. It’s a finely rendered engraving, characteristic of the detailed portraiture popular during the Baroque era. Girolama Giustiniani, as the inscription tells us, was the wife of Joseph Justiniani. In this period, portraits of women were often less about the individual and more about their familial role. While Matham captures Girolama’s likeness, the portrait also serves to reinforce her status as a wife within the powerful Giustiniani family. Consider how Girolama is presented: her clothing is modest, yet elegant, and the oval frame lends an air of classical virtue. Yet, in her gaze, there’s also a hint of something more, a quiet strength perhaps. The social expectations and constraints placed on women during this time were immense, yet individuals often found ways to express their own identities. It invites us to contemplate the untold stories and inner lives of women like Girolama, who navigated a world defined by patriarchal structures.