The Charisma of Effigies in Printed Books

Abstract

The practice of including authorial portraits along with literary works may be found already in the marble busts of classical Antiquity. With the advent of the printed book, the use of this authorial marker acquired greater importance to the extent that it is sometimes an indispensable paratext for literary interpretation. Authorial portraits are based on processes of ethopoiesis, or the construction of character, circumscribed by prevailing values. A few typical models for the construction of the authorial persona are the following: the poet laureate, the romantic genius, the erudite nun, the courtesan, the exotic author; one of the most common poses is the melancholic pose. This article surveys a few meaningful examples.