Portret van missionaris en schrijver Paolo Segneri 1692 - 1762

Girolamo Rossi II created this print of Wolfgang Hannibal von Schrattenbach in 1712 using etching techniques. Schrattenbach, portrayed here, was not only a Cardinal but also a powerful figure within the Holy Roman Empire. Rossi’s print offers a glimpse into the intersection of religious authority and aristocratic identity. Note the Cardinal's formal attire and elaborate wig, signifying his high social status and the power he wielded within the Catholic Church and the Empire. The emblems flanking the portrait are family crests, symbols of lineage and power. How does this formal representation both reflect and reinforce the societal hierarchies of the time? The details in Rossi’s etching provide a window into the visual language of power and prestige in the 18th century. It invites us to consider the complex roles individuals played within the stratified societies of old Europe.