Portret van Balthasar Stolberg op 44-jarige leeftijd 1684

This engraving of Balthasar Stolberg at the age of 44, was made by Michael Fennitzer, a German artist, in the 17th century. The image provides a fascinating insight into the social and intellectual milieu of the time. Stolberg, identified as a member of the philosophical order of Wittenberg, is depicted with the trappings of scholarship and status, including a large wig, lace collar, and scholarly books. These cultural references underscore the importance of learning and social standing in 17th-century society. The presence of Latin inscriptions beneath the portrait also indicates the enduring influence of classical education. The work is not only a likeness, but a statement about Stolberg's identity, and the values of the institutions to which he belonged. To fully understand this image, one would need to delve into the history of Wittenberg's philosophical order and the role of education in shaping social elites in 17th-century Germany.