Portrait of Maria Barbara Peyer (1636-1693) 1683

Editor: This is "Portrait of Maria Barbara Peyer," painted in 1683. The artist is Felix Meyer and he worked in oil paint. I am struck by how the fashion dominates everything! I’m curious, what does this painting say to you? Curator: Well, let's start with context. These formal portraits served a vital public role for the elite. How did they wish to be seen, and by whom? This painting isn't simply about capturing a likeness; it’s carefully constructing a visual representation of status. Look at the fur hat, the lace. The quality of such material signalled financial prowess. Editor: So, you're saying it's less about Maria Barbara herself, and more about sending a message about her position? Curator: Exactly! The artist is performing a kind of public relations on canvas. Now consider where it hung; likely in the Peyer family home to demonstrate their position. A portrait in those times reinforced social order and expectations. Who got portrayed in these ways, and who did not, is another essential matter. It demonstrates a sharp social divide. Editor: That's interesting! I hadn’t considered the setting for the portrait. So, what would a painting like this communicate today, displayed in a museum like Städel? Curator: Today, it serves as a valuable artefact. It provides us insight into 17th century power dynamics. The museum context adds another layer; elevating the work to "art" and enabling dialogues around representation, social history, and collecting. How have our values changed, or perhaps not changed at all, since Maria Barbara had her portrait made? Editor: I never thought about it like that before; that portraits weren't just pretty pictures. Now I am thinking about the ways power is captured in images in our current digital media landscape. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure.