Family Portrait of Baron von Erlach 1711

Antoine Pesne painted this family portrait of Baron von Erlach, its date is unknown. The image gives us a glimpse into the constructed world of the aristocracy. The family portrait, a genre often reserved for the wealthy, subtly reinforces the social hierarchy of the time. In the painting, the accoutrements of wealth and status are on full display. From the clothing of the Baron to the presence of a globe and violin, we are reminded of the family's access to education, culture and global awareness. We see the performance of gender, through the male Baron’s clothes to the clothing of the women and children, which illustrates the social roles they inhabited. This painting is not simply a depiction of a family, but a carefully crafted statement about identity, privilege and power in the 18th century.