Portret van Giulio Jasolino c. 1630 - 1676

Johann Carl von Thill created this portrait of Giulio Jasolino using etching, a printmaking technique, sometime in the mid-17th century. The elaborate framing and inscription around the portrait point to the sitter's prominent role as a professor of anatomy and surgery at the Royal Gymnasium of Naples. During this era, Naples, under Spanish rule, was experiencing a flourishing of intellectual and scientific inquiry. The establishment of institutions like the Gymnasium reflected a growing emphasis on formal education and the advancement of knowledge. Jasolino’s expertise in anatomy places him at the forefront of the scientific revolution. The choice of portraiture, combined with the surrounding Latin text, serves to immortalize Jasolino and legitimize his academic status. Understanding this artwork requires delving into the history of Naples, the development of medical education, and the conventions of portraiture in the 17th century. Catalogues and archival documents would provide valuable insight into Jasolino's career, as well as the cultural and intellectual life of Naples. In this way, a print can serve as a window onto the history of institutions and social status.