Constantine Moldavi, Prince of Scarlati c. 18th century

Editor: This is Georg Friedrich Schmidt's engraving, "Constantine Moldavi, Prince of Scarlati." I’m struck by the ornate details and the overall impression of formality. What do you make of this portrait? Curator: It's like peering into another world, isn't it? I'm drawn to the symbolic weight of the garments, the fur hat, and the regal presentation. I wonder, what kind of message does this carefully constructed image send about power, status, and identity during that era? Editor: It’s interesting to think about how much an image like this would have communicated. Curator: Precisely! And for me, the power of such portraits lies in what they leave unsaid, inviting us to imagine the life, ambitions, and even vulnerabilities, of Prince Constantine Moldavi.