Portret van Dimitrie Cantemir 1735

François Morellon La Cave created this print of Dimitrie Cantemir in the 18th century. Cantemir’s portrait is framed by an oval border, inscribed with his titles, Prince of Moldavia, Prince of the Holy Roman Empire, and Russian Senator. This image speaks to the complex politics of imagery and status. Cantemir, though Moldavian, held titles in both the Holy Roman and Russian Empires. The print visually asserts his nobility and high standing through the trappings of power: armor, ermine, and heraldic symbols. The French inscription suggests a circulation within European aristocratic and intellectual circles. Prints such as these played a crucial role in constructing and disseminating images of power. We can learn more about Cantemir by researching the political and cultural history of 18th-century Europe, looking at primary sources like letters, treaties, and other visual representations of nobility, and considering the role of institutions in the creation and dissemination of knowledge. Art is contingent on social and institutional context.