Portretten van Mathilde van Toscane en Bonifacio III van Canossa 1745

This is an engraving of Mathilde of Tuscany and Bonifacio III of Canossa by Johann Friedrich Schleuen. It's a work defined by clarity and order, its formal structure reinforcing the status of its subjects through distinct visual cues. The portrait’s composition is rigidly symmetrical; the profiles of Mathilde and Bonifacio are framed by matching oval cartouches. Note how Schleuen employs the lion head, a symbol of strength, strategically placed above the portraits, and the swag of fabric that lends a sense of depth. These elements are not merely decorative but serve to frame and elevate the subjects. The inscription below is a further structuring device, anchoring the portraits within a historical and intellectual context. The engraving’s linear precision, achieved through meticulous mark-making, enhances the clarity of forms. This precision, coupled with the calculated arrangement of elements, invites us to decode a hierarchy of signs that uphold the established order. Schleuen's engraving embodies a desire to present a structured world, reinforcing clear cultural codes.