Portret van Giovanni, graaf van Arrivabene 1795

This is a portrait of Giovanni, Count of Arrivabene, made by Johann Georg Mannsfeld. The piece is an engraving, a technique that lends itself to the precise and detailed rendering we see here. Produced in the late 18th or early 19th century, this image offers a glimpse into the visual codes of status and identity during that time. Note the oval frame, the Latin inscription, and the trappings of scholarship—the book and quill. These elements tell us about the Count’s position in society, his education, and perhaps his aspirations. The Arrivabene family, originally from Venice, were part of the nobility in Mantua. How does this context inform our understanding of the artwork? What role did portraits play in asserting social status, and how did they circulate through society? What was it about this particular individual that Mannsfeld wanted to convey? To answer these questions, we might turn to genealogical records, social histories of the Italian nobility, and studies of portraiture as a cultural phenomenon. The meaning of this artwork lies not only in its aesthetic qualities but also in its connections to a wider social and institutional context.