Portret van Seyfried Leonhard von Breuner 1634 - 1651

Elias Widemann produced this print of Seyfried Leonhard von Breuner using etching. This portrait showcases Breuner's high social standing through its visual codes. The Latin inscription surrounding the portrait identifies Breuner's titles: colonel, counselor, chamberlain, and friend to the fatherland. The tearing of the frame at each corner of the rectangle is a theatrical Baroque device, reminding us that this is a carefully constructed image. Prints like these served to circulate images of power and status in the absence of photography. They also point to the institutional role of portraiture. Commissioned and displayed, this artwork would have reinforced Breuner’s authority and commemorated his achievements for a select audience. To fully understand this image, further research into the social hierarchies of the Holy Roman Empire and the role of military figures like Breuner would be valuable.