The Gift of Counsel 1705 - 1762

Johann Georg Bergmüller made this print, "The Gift of Counsel," in the 18th century using engraving. It features an allegorical figure atop a pedestal, laden with symbols of authority and wisdom, set against a backdrop of classical architecture and billowing clouds. Bergmüller was working in Germany at a time when the Holy Roman Empire was fragmenting. He produced art for the church and other institutions. The complex iconography in this print draws upon a range of classical, biblical and mythological references, seeking to convey a sense of divinely sanctioned authority. The figure's garments, the globe, and the tablets all speak to different aspects of governance, knowledge, and divine guidance. Understanding the print requires us to unpack the visual codes within the context of 18th-century German intellectual and political life. Resources in libraries and archives can help us trace how specific images were deployed to support particular claims to legitimacy and to explore how the print relates to contemporaneous debates about the nature of power and the role of counsel in governance.