Portret van Friedrich Ludwig Franz von Wangen zu Geroldseck 1780

This engraving by Karl Mathias Ernst depicts Friedrich Ludwig Franz von Wangen zu Geroldseck, Bishop of Basel. It was made around 1770. We can read this image as a statement about the Bishop’s power and status within the Catholic Church and the Holy Roman Empire. The elaborate frame, the coat of arms, and the inscription detailing his titles all contribute to this impression of authority. It’s worth remembering that Basel was a complex political entity at this time, caught between the waning power of the Empire and the rise of modern nation-states. To understand this portrait fully, we need to delve into the history of the Bishopric of Basel, its relationship with the Habsburgs, and the social structures of the Swiss Confederacy. Researching the Wangen zu Geroldseck family and their role in local politics would also yield valuable insights. The visual codes of clothing and heraldry can also be unpacked to deepen our understanding of how the Bishop wished to be seen.