Images of Power: Depictions of Patronage Donations of Works of Art in Early Modern Europe

Numerous writings in sociology and art history have highlighted the importance of the donation act as a form of communication and a participant in social bonding. In order to participate in the affirmation of a social status or a political power, a donation implies a space of visibility and of representation that guarantees its advertisement within a community. In this perspective, it seems worthwhile to study the gift-giving of works of art within the framework of patronage relationships during the early modern period and, more specifically, the way this action was publicly expressed. After a review of the scientific literature on the subject, this paper will address the issue of gift-giving within courtly sponsorships through early modern engravings of the Southern Netherlands.