Portret van Johann Christian Schröter 1669 - 1725

This is Christoph Weigel's portrait of Johann Christian Schröter, made using etching and burin. The portrait bust is framed within an oval, an emblem of elite status in the late 17th century. It was a time when powerful families consolidated their position through strategic marriages and inheritance, with portraits like this playing a key role. But this isn’t just about wealth. Schröter’s formal wig and dignified pose speak to his position within the legal establishment. The inscription tells us he was a professor at the Academy of Jena and a Scabinus, or alderman. The portrait then, is a carefully constructed image of civic virtue and intellectual authority. To fully understand this image, we need to delve into the social and institutional history of the Holy Roman Empire at this time. Scholarly resources such as genealogical records and university archives can help us understand the networks of power and influence in which Schröter operated, and how such portraits functioned within them.