Portret van Johann Ernst Schaper 1705 - 1721

This is a portrait of Johann Ernst Schaper, made by Christian Fritzsch, likely during the first half of the 18th century. It's a small print, just 16cm high, and would have been relatively inexpensive to produce. Prints like this circulated widely in Europe at the time, offering ways of seeing and being seen that were closely tied to social status and professional identity. Schaper is identified in the inscription as a professor and councillor; note his elaborate wig and formal attire. These details signify his belonging to a learned elite. The portrait is framed in an oval cartouche, ornamented with a coat-of-arms. It’s likely that the image was commissioned by Schaper himself, to promote his status within courtly circles. To understand the work better, we could research the role of portraiture in consolidating power, as well as the status of professors in the German states during the period. These kinds of images are powerful sources for cultural historians.