Portret van Johann Thomae 1665 - 1721

Christian Romstet created this engraving of Johann Thomae, a high-ranking official in the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, sometime between the 1660s and the early 1700s. The print offers a glimpse into the hierarchical society of the German Baroque. Thomae’s elaborate wig, fine garments, and confident pose, visually communicate his elevated status and proximity to power. Behind him, a draped curtain and fluted column evoke a sense of theater and grandeur appropriate to his office. An inscription above and below the image identify Thomae’s titles and virtues, reinforcing his authority and the legitimacy of the ruling Duke. Prints like this one served as a form of public relations, circulating images of important figures and reinforcing social hierarchies. To understand the full significance of this work, one might consult archival records about the Duchy of Saxe-Gotha-Altenburg, biographical information about Thomae and Romstet, and studies of Baroque portraiture and print culture. The meaning of this print is thus inextricably linked to its social and institutional context.