Nobilitas n.d.

Curator: "Nobilitas" is the title of this etching and engraving on paper, made by George Vertue. It resides here at the Art Institute of Chicago. Look closely at this riotous collection of objects, a real cornucopia! Editor: My eye is immediately drawn to the sheer abundance of textures—the cross-hatching of the engraved lines attempting to mimic the luster of metal, the weight of fabric. The print medium itself feels essential to capturing this profusion of materials. Curator: Indeed. Nobilitas, or Nobility, sits centrally, surrounded by these objects that speak to power, learning, and refinement. She's almost a personification, wouldn’t you agree, draped in the iconography of a ruling class? Editor: Yes, she certainly seems like an embodiment of aristocratic virtues. But all of this ornamentation feels… aggressive. All the materials seem to vie for dominance, a showy accumulation on this single sheet of paper. Look, cannon barrels sit right next to what appears to be an astronomer’s globe. A real statement about priorities here. Curator: I see your point. One could certainly argue that military might props up the pursuit of knowledge. But note also the cupid in Nobilitas’ hand. She extends to him a laurel wreath – an emblem of accomplishment that gestures to virtue as an award in its own right, independent of mere power. It asks us to consider something aspirational beyond just the tools of empire. Editor: A nice thought. Though even the wreath becomes another item in this material spectacle, doesn’t it? Produced for show and display above all? I’m stuck on the process of etching to bring such dense layers into existence: each line, each darkening carefully rendered for hours upon hours. What sort of workshop would have been needed to bring this together? Curator: An excellent question, underscoring the effort in image production in the period. What strikes me most is that Nobilitas looks burdened. Perhaps George Vertue, through this seemingly celebratory tableau, subtly critiques the weight of responsibility that comes with power. It’s the constant negotiation, generation after generation. Editor: I think this engraving, for me, shows how labor and resources had to converge in order to forge a symbolic world of power. Curator: A fitting way to characterize this piece, given the density of interwoven meanings here. Thank you. Editor: Absolutely. Always a pleasure.