Portrait of Juan Pablo Oliva (1600-1681)
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-94-76
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 17th-century portraiture with *Portrait of Juan Pablo Oliva (1600-1681)*, a striking print created around 1670 by French engr Jean-Pierre Simon (165-1710). Simon, renowned for his precise reproductive engravings, captured the likeness of Oliva, a prominent Jesuit priest served as Superior General of the Society of Jesus from 1669 to 1681. This work exemplifies the era's fascination with authoritative figures, blending portraiture with the power of printmaking to immortalize leaders across Europe. As a print, likely an engraving, the artwork highlights the medium's revol...