Curatorial notes
This engraving portrays Paolo Giovio and was made by an anonymous artist. This image encapsulates the High Renaissance cult of the learned individual. Note the oval frame, a common device to ennoble the sitter with the classical connotations of the form. The putti and garlands complete the classical effect. Giovio is presented as a humanist scholar, a man of letters, surrounded by the tools of his trade. Produced in Europe at a time when printed books were becoming more widespread, it reflects the increasing value placed on intellectual pursuits and the growing status of scholars. It also points to the function of art and images in constructing social status. Understanding this image involves research into the history of printing, the classical revival, and the social role of intellectuals in the Renaissance. Historical context transforms our understanding of the image.
