Portret van Celio Secondo Curione 1597 - 1599

Robert Boissard created this portrait of Celio Secondo Curione as an engraving, sometime between 1586 and 1691. Boissard’s print revives Curione’s image as that of a philosopher. But who was he really? Curione was an Italian humanist, educator, and religious reformer. He fled Italy because of his Protestant beliefs and later taught at the University of Basel. This portrait thus connects to the rise of humanism and the Protestant Reformation during the 16th and 17th centuries. As the religious landscape changed, so did the patronage system for artists. Curione's book in the portrait and the writing instruments on the desk reflect the rising status of intellectuals and artists who were no longer dependent on the church. Historians consult archives and libraries to research the backgrounds and contexts of portraits. By understanding the historical circumstances surrounding its production, we can see how this image participates in larger conversations about religious freedom and humanist thought.