Portret van Kurt Christoph von Königsmarck

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Portret van Kurt Christoph von Königarck*, a finely wrought engraving by Matthäus Mer II (1621–1687), a master engraver from the illustrious Merian family of artists based in Frankfurt. Created in the 17th century amid Europe's turbulent Baroque era, this portrait captures the noble Swedish military leader Kurt Christoph von Königsmarck, whose exploits during the Thirty Years' War beyond cemented his legacy. Measuring a modest 269 mm high by 186 mm wide, it exemplifies the intimate scale of period portrait prints, designed for collectors and admirers to treasure in private cabinets. Merian II's expertise in engraving shines through this work, a technique where intricate lines are incised into a copper plate, inked, and pressed onto paper to produce sharp, detailed reproductions. Such prints democratized access to elite likenesses, allowing von Königsmarck's dignified visage—likely rendered with meticulous attention to lace collars, armor, and expressive features—to circulate widely across courts and scholarly circles. This medium's durability and precision made it ideal for commemorating figures of historical import. On the verso, a stamped collector's mark (Lugt 2228) hints at the artwork's esteemed provenance, linking it to generations of connoisseurs. As a window into 17th-century nobility and artistry, this engraving invites us to ponder the interplay of power, portraiture, and preservation in an age of war and wonder.