Erik Rosenkrantz 1612 - 1681

Hubert Schaten made this engraving of Erik Rosenkrantz; we don’t know exactly when. What is the public role of art in a portrait such as this? We see an allegorical representation of Rosenkrantz: his portrait in an oval is flanked by figures of Athena and Justice. A putto floats above, bearing the Rosenkrantz coat of arms. The print elevates Erik Rosenkrantz through classical and Christian visual codes. It was made in Denmark, a kingdom, at a time when aristocratic families dominated the state. Rosenkrantz was a member of such a family, so this print reinforces the social hierarchies of the time. Historians would want to find out more about the Rosenkrantz family and their position in Danish society. Genealogies and other historical documents help us understand the people in art. Art always exists within a social and institutional context.