Portret van Catharina Elisabeth Besser vastgehouden door Erato en Minerva 1732

This 1732 engraving by Christian Fritzsch, titled "Portret van Catharina Elisabeth Besser vastgehouden door Erato en Minerva," depicts Catharina Elisabeth Besser surrounded by allegorical figures. The central portrait of Besser is held by the muses Erato and Minerva, representing poetry and wisdom. The composition features a rich visual language with symbols of the arts, including a lyre, a cage, and a laurel wreath. The inclusion of these elements points to Besser's patronage of the arts and her intellectual pursuits. This detailed work showcases Fritzsch's skill in engraving and provides a glimpse into 18th-century Dutch culture.