Monument van Heinrich Christian von Senckenberg 1749 - 1796

This print of a monument to Heinrich Christian von Senckenberg was created by Johann Ernst Mansfeld. The composition is structured by a formal symmetry. Putti flank either side of a plinth. Above, an oval portrait creates a focal point, framed by foliage, and reinforces this sense of classical order. Yet the figures introduce a subtle dynamism through their gestures and soft modelling. Below, a dense inscription and the monument's architectural base provide a grounding element. This contrast between the ornate details and the clean lines of the architecture embodies the period's interest in combining rationality with decorative flourish. The print's emphasis on balance and proportion conveys a sense of idealization, reflecting a broader Enlightenment concern with order and reason.