Fridericus Benedictus Oertel c. 18th century

Editor: So, this is a portrait of Fridericus Benedictus Oertel by Georg Friedrich Schmidt, currently at the Harvard Art Museums. It has an interesting allegorical composition and I'm curious about the cherubic figure. What is your interpretation of this work, especially its cultural context? Curator: Considering Schmidt's time, portraits of this nature were often instruments of power. The inclusion of the cherub, and even the architectural frame, all contribute to Oertel's construction of an image: What do these symbols communicate about status, gender, and the role of knowledge in shaping societal hierarchies? Editor: That’s fascinating! I hadn't thought about the architectural framing as part of that power dynamic. Curator: Exactly. We must examine how art participates in these power dynamics to truly understand its impact and meaning in history. Editor: I’ll definitely be looking at portraits differently now. Thanks!