Portret van Friedrich Ferdinand von Pappenheim 1745

This engraving of Friedrich Ferdinand von Pappenheim was made by Johann Martin Bernigeroth in the mid-18th century. It offers a glimpse into the visual culture that sustained the aristocratic structures of the Holy Roman Empire. Portraits like this one served a crucial social function. They visually codified status and lineage. Von Pappenheim is shown in armour, his ermine cloak draped to show status, though he also holds the title of Count. Note how the print medium allows for the reproduction and circulation of his image. Bernigeroth, as an engraver based in Leipzig, benefited from the city's rise as a centre for publishing and printmaking, driven by the demands of the university and the book trade. The Rijksmuseum's collection provides invaluable resources for tracing these networks of artistic production. By studying such images, we gain insight into the ways power was represented, disseminated, and consumed in the 18th century.