756 - Baroque portraitist, portrait of a church dignitary in vestments with pectoral cross, 18th century

Baroque portraitist, portrait of a church dignitary in vestments with pectoral cross, 18th century Oil on canvas, unsigned, 18th century, bust-length portrait of a prince-bishop in three-quarter view against a dark background, white curled wig, white-edged bands, black cape over red patterned brocade, on a chain a cross-shaped pendant with stones in blue and gold, the painting bears witness to the representative conception of portraiture of its time and offers an impressive testimony to Baroque dignity of office in the clergy, condition commensurate with age, craquelure, impression of the stretcher in the canvas, backed area above the head, retouches, image 58x42.5 cm (HxW), framed, frame chipped and with old woodworm, frame width 7 cm Prince-bishops, together with the archbishops and imperial abbots, were among the ecclesiastical princes of the Holy Roman Empire and exercised territorial sovereignty in their territories. The Reichsdeputationshauptschluss of 1803 ended almost all ecclesiastical principalities. The pectoral cross, also called pectorale, is in Christianity an insignia of bishops and is also worn by the Pope, cardinals, abbots and abbesses. A portrait is the artistic depiction of a particular person that is intended to convey their nature and personality.