Portret van Sophia van Hannover, hertogin van Brunswijk-Luneburg 1701 - 1714

This engraving depicts Sophia of Hanover, Duchess of Brunswick-Lüneburg, and was made by Johann Martin Bernigeroth in the 18th century. It presents Sophia in formal attire, seated regally, an image deeply embedded in the politics of succession and power. Bernigeroth, working within the conventions of Baroque portraiture, presents Sophia in a manner designed to convey authority and lineage. The setting, with its classical columns and heavy drapery, evokes a sense of grandeur and historical weight. Note the inscription, which identifies Sophia not only by her German title but also as ‘Erb Princessin von England’ – ‘Princess of England’. The image subtly yet powerfully asserts her claim to the British throne, a claim she held through her mother, a Stuart princess. To fully understand this print, one must delve into the complex web of European royal families, religious conflicts, and parliamentary acts that defined the period. By exploring sources in both visual culture and political history, we can begin to unpack the ways in which images like this were deployed as instruments of power.