Juristen Baldus en Bartolus en keizers Karel V en Justinianus 1643

This engraving, by an anonymous artist, probably made in the Netherlands, presents a commentary on Justinian law. Printed book illustrations like these are fascinating because they reveal the ways in which legal knowledge was circulated and visualized in early modern Europe. The image presents a hierarchy of legal authority. We see Roman Emperors alongside more recent legal scholars Baldus and Bartolus. This tells us something about how legal authority was conceived at the time, linking contemporary legal practice back to the classical world. Also notice the religious imagery at the top of the frame, presenting a Christian blessing on the whole enterprise. This was a time when law, religion and politics were deeply intertwined. To properly understand this image, we can look into legal history, religious studies, and the history of the book. Only by understanding its cultural and institutional context can we really unlock its meanings.