Mattheus Sigismundis Schuster (1757-1826) 1775 - 1825

This miniature portrait on ivory depicts Mattheus Sigismundis Schuster, who lived from 1757 to 1826, and was probably made during his lifetime. The painting offers a glimpse into the social world of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Schuster's attire, a dark coat with a white shirt and red waistcoat, suggests a man of some social standing. The miniature format itself speaks to the rise of bourgeois culture, where personal portraits became fashionable markers of identity and status. We might ask ourselves, what was Schuster's profession? How did he earn enough money to afford a portrait miniature? The identity of the artist is unknown, highlighting the complex relationship between artistic production and social recognition. While Schuster is remembered through this image, the artist remains anonymous, a common occurrence in a period where artistic labor was often undervalued or unsigned. Further research into Schuster's life, as well as the social history of portrait miniatures, can help us to understand the painting in its full social and cultural context.