Portret van Ferdinand Maria, keurvorst van Beieren 1651 - 1680

Simon Grimm created this print of Ferdinand Maria, Elector of Bavaria, sometime between 1650 and 1682. The print participates in a long tradition of portraiture depicting European monarchs as powerful and divinely sanctioned rulers. The composition is dominated by Ferdinand Maria who is mounted on horseback, laden with royal regalia. In his right hand he holds a globe topped with a cross, symbolizing his dominion and Christian power. Above him hovers a cherubic figure bearing a heraldic shield, a common trope meant to legitimize the dynasty and signal his noble lineage. The context of the Thirty Years' War which devastated much of Central Europe surely shaped Ferdinand Maria's identity and reign. In many ways the image reinforces conventional ideals of masculinity and power. But it also reflects an attempt to visually reassert authority and stability in a fractured society. Consider how the piece walks a tightrope between tradition and the urgent need for a strong, comforting leadership.