Portrait of Cardinal Zacharias de Mez

Prints and Drawings

c. 1661

Johannes Visscher
Dutch, 1633-1692

For centuries printmaking has been used as a tool for religious propaganda, spreading images of idolized figures to followers across the world for use in daily ritual. Johannes Visscher’s posthumous portrait of the Belgian Cardinal Zacharias de Mez appears in an early, unlettered proof state and lacks all identifying features beyond his coat of arms. While he maintains a challenging, omniscient gaze, he is more recognizable to the masses as a religious figure through his miter, robe, and crucifix.

Status: Currently Off View
Department: Prints and Drawings

Artist: Jan Visscher
Title: Portrait of Cardinal Zacharias de Mez
Origin: Holland
Date: Artist's working dates 1540–1586
Medium: Engraving on ivory laid paper
Dimensions: 432 × 286 mm
Credit Line: Gift of Horace S. Oakley
Reference Number: 1923.1022
IIIF Manifest The International Image Interoperability Framework (IIIF) represents a set of open standards that enables rich access to digital media from libraries, archives, museums, and other cultural institutions around the world. Learn more.: https://api.artic.edu/api/v1/artworks/9421/manifest.json

Hollstein 133 unlettered proof, unrecorded

Wessely 10

Le Blanc 10

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