Portret van Gottlob Hieronymus von Leipziger 1729

Martin Bernigeroth created this print of Gottlob Hieronymus von Leipziger sometime between 1700 and 1733, employing etching and engraving. The image encapsulates the cultural values of the Holy Roman Empire in the early 18th century. Leipziger is framed by an oval border. Below him, the inscription names him a counselor to the King of Poland and Elector of Saxony, giving us a clue to the culture of the time. Bernigeroth depicts Leipziger with a full, powdered wig. He wears a breastplate and what seems to be an ermine stole. It is a performance of power: the wig, the armor, the ermine, all visual codes that signify elite status. This print and others like it show us the increasing centralization of power and wealth in the hands of royalty and their courts. By studying portraits like this alongside other cultural artifacts from the time, historians can better understand the social and institutional context of early modern Europe.