Deugd kroont Edelheid 1739 - 1780

Francesco Bartolozzi created this engraving titled 'Deugd kroont Edelheid', or 'Virtue Crowns Adelheid', sometime in the late 18th century. It presents us with a heavenly scene where allegorical figures crown a female figure, seemingly representing the virtue of Adelheid. The image speaks to the period's fascination with allegory as a way to visualize abstract concepts, a common practice among European academies. But the institutional and political meaning of the image resides in the identity of Adelheid. The identity of Adelheid may provide a clue to the historical context of this work. Is she a member of royalty or nobility, for example? This artwork could then be read as a piece of propaganda, cementing the status of powerful individuals. The key to unlocking the work's meaning lies in historical research. By investigating the figures and symbols present, and understanding the social context in which Bartolozzi was working, we can start to appreciate the complex layers of meaning embedded in this print.