Jan Marchese Pallavicini 1739

This undated print shows Jan Marchese Pallavicini and was made by Johann Martin Bernigeroth. Bernigeroth was working in the German lands in the 18th century, a period marked by the rise of powerful courts and their attendant hierarchies. This portrait gives us a glimpse into that world. Note the trappings of status: the elaborate wig, the suggestion of armor, and the carefully inscribed title below. All of these visual elements speak to Pallavicini’s position as a man of power and influence. Prints like this one served an important social function at the time. They helped to circulate images of important figures and reinforce existing social hierarchies. In other words, they helped to create a shared visual culture. To understand this print more fully, we might turn to historical sources like court documents, letters, and other images from the period. These kinds of sources can help us to understand the social and institutional context in which it was made, reminding us that the meaning of art is always shaped by its historical moment.