Erkersaal im sog. Alten Schloss von Cadolzburg 

Karl Ballenberger sketched "Erkersaal im sog. Alten Schloss von Cadolzburg" using pencil and paper sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The drawing shows the interior of Cadolzburg Castle, in Bavaria. Castles, like churches, have always been symbols of social order. In the early 1800s Germany was undergoing significant political upheaval and societal transformation. The Holy Roman Empire had recently dissolved, and a sense of German nationalism was beginning to emerge. Artists like Ballenberger, often commissioned by local heritage societies, sought to document and preserve historical landmarks like Cadolzburg Castle as symbols of regional and national identity. The austere and precise lines of the drawing speak to the cultural values of documentation and historical preservation that were becoming increasingly important at the time. This image provides a valuable insight into the cultural and institutional forces at play in 19th-century Germany. By consulting historical archives, architectural records, and other primary sources, we can come to a better understanding of the complex interplay between art, history, and society.