Portret van Karl Joseph Anton Mittermaier

About this artwork

plaatrand: hoogte 164 mm x breedte 113 mm

Art Historical Context

This steel engraving by Karl Barth presents a formal portrait of Karl Joseph Anton Mittermaier, capturing the sitter in a dignified pose typical of early nineteenth-century scholarly imagery. Created sometime between 1828 and 1853, the work measures just 164 by 113 millimetres, a compact format well suited to reproduction in books or personal collections. Steel engraving, the chosen medium, allowed artists to achieve exceptionally fine lines and durable plates, making it ideal for disseminating portraits of notable figures during the period. Barth’s careful technique highlights subtle tonal gradations and crisp detail, demonstrating the precision that made the process popular for both artistic and documentary purposes. As a modest yet refined print, the work reflects the era’s growing interest in accessible portraiture, offering viewers today a glimpse into the visual culture surrounding European intellectuals of the time.

About the Artist

Karl Barth · 1787–1853

Karl Barth (also known as Carl Barth or Johann Carl Barth, 1787–1853) was a versatile German artist who worked as a copperplate engraver, draughtsman, painter, illustrator, and portrait engraver during the late eighteenth and first half of the nineteenth centuries. Born in Eisfeld in the Duchy of Saxe-Meiningen and dying in Kassel, Barth exemplified the multi-talented artist-craftsman of the Roman...