Portret van Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington 1813

Johann Friedrich Bolt made this print of Arthur Wellesley, the 1st Duke of Wellington. This engraving gives us insight into the visual codes used to construct authority in 19th-century Europe. Wellington, a celebrated military figure, is depicted with the visual markers of power: a formal military uniform, sash and decorations. Consider the historical context: this image was made during a period of intense political and social change, when long-standing European monarchies were being challenged by emerging notions of democracy and nationalism. How did institutions like the military and its heroes shape the public imagination? Prints like this played a key role in disseminating images of authority, but they were also accessible to a wide audience, prompting reflection on the nature of leadership and the values it represented. Looking at institutional archives, personal letters, and political pamphlets of the period alongside this image can lead us to a richer understanding of the public role of art and the social conditions that shape artistic production.