Portret van Carlo Belgrado 1825 - 1875

This is an undated portrait of Carlo Belgrado by an anonymous artist, of unknown medium, though it appears to be printed. Who was Carlo Belgrado, and why did an unknown artist create his portrait? Belgrado was a prominent clergyman, whose vestments indicate status and authority. In many ways this portrait is not revelatory, in that it performs traditional representations of powerful men. This portrait captures a figure of power, but leaves us wondering about the lives, the conditions, the beliefs, of those who were not centered in the art of this period. What emotional and personal impacts might these types of images have on those not represented? In what ways does this portrait shape or reflect societal norms?