Verehrung des Heiligen Herzens Jesu, in Verbindung mit _Pasce oves meas_, durch einen jugendlichen Stifter in Ritterrüstung mit leerem Wappenschild 

Johann Georg Bergmüller made this drawing, "Adoration of the Sacred Heart of Jesus," at an unknown date. The sketch presents a fascinating intersection of religious fervor and social hierarchy characteristic of the late Baroque period. The drawing depicts a knight offering himself to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, referencing the Gospel of John. The knight's armor and blank shield visually communicate honor and lineage. The combination of religious iconography and aristocratic symbolism reflects the deeply entrenched power structures of 18th-century Germany, where the Catholic Church and nobility held significant influence. The work’s title references _Pasce oves meas_ or ‘Feed my sheep,’ these are the words of Jesus Christ to Simon Peter after the Resurrection, and are taken from John 21:17 in the New Testament. ‘Feed my sheep’ is associated with the Pope, and the Papal ministry. It is the Pope’s job to provide for the Church, as Christ provided for the people. To fully understand the drawing, we can investigate theological treatises from the period, records of patronage, and the biographies of Bergmüller and his patrons, which are all valuable resources for understanding the intertwined social, religious, and artistic contexts of this devotional image.