Portret van Philip, baron van Stosch 1727 - 1754

Georg Martin Preissler made this print of Philip, Baron von Stosch using an engraving technique. It's a portrait of a sculpture, an image of an image, which immediately raises questions of institutional representation. Von Stosch was a prominent antiquarian and collector of classical art in 18th-century Rome. By commissioning and circulating images of his likeness through prints like this, he could shape his public image and align himself with the prestige of classical antiquity. The print, with its Latin inscription, suggests an educated and elite audience. The style evokes the grandeur of Roman portraiture, associating Von Stosch with power, intellect, and taste. To fully understand this image, we might delve into Von Stosch's biography, explore the circulation of such prints in 18th-century intellectual circles, and examine the market for antiquities in Rome. What we learn from all of these approaches, is the role of art in constructing and reinforcing social hierarchies.