Portret van Anton Ulrich von Erath 1760

This print portrays Anton Ulrich von Erath, rendered by Johann Martin Bernigeroth. Note the oval frame, a shape echoing the ancient Roman tradition of portraiture, symbolizing both enclosure and an idealized view of the subject. Beneath the portrait, a coat of arms is prominently displayed, acting as a heraldic marker. The crest with eagle wings symbolizes power and nobility, a visual shorthand for Erath's lineage and status. This motif, tracing back to ancient emblems, reflects a longing to connect oneself to ancestral valor. Consider the psychological aspect of such representation: the desire to immortalize oneself, to exert control over one's image in the face of mortality. This heraldic language, passed down through generations, resurfaces in different forms, reflecting a human need to anchor oneself in the continuum of history. A need that remains unchanged.