Portret van Juliane Florine von Veltheim 1724 - 1733

This is Martin Bernigeroth’s portrait of Juliane Florine von Veltheim, etched in the early 18th century. Encircling Juliane, the oval frame itself carries a weighty history, harking back to ancient Roman portraiture, where it symbolized completeness and eternity. The oval, unlike the rigid rectangle, suggests a world without sharp corners, a harmonious continuum of existence. The draped curtain, a motif as old as art itself, reveals and conceals, promising a glimpse into a world beyond. Think of the veils of antiquity, the hidden faces of gods and goddesses. This act of unveiling, present across cultures, speaks to our primal desire to penetrate the mysteries of life and death. These symbols echo through time, a constant return, like the eternal recurrence. The portrait becomes more than an image of Juliane; it transforms into a vessel carrying centuries of cultural memory.