Portret van Regina Elisabeth Richter 1727 - 1733

Martin Bernigeroth created this print of Regina Elisabeth Richter using etching and engraving techniques. Born in Germany, Bernigeroth spent his career making portraits of the local elite and clergy. The image’s meaning lies in the language of allegory so popular in the 18th century. Regina Richter is presented as a portrait within the print, held aloft by a putto; to the right stands an allegorical figure, and to the left another sits in contemplation. Though these figures may seem obscure to us now, for Bernigeroth’s contemporaries, the image would have clearly signaled Regina’s virtues and elevated status. What can the historian do with such an image? Well, much can be learned by examining similar portraits of the period and by researching the heraldry that appears at the bottom. By situating the image within its dense social and cultural context, we can begin to unlock its meaning.