Portret van Johann Melchior Dinglinger 1769

Curator: Ah, yes, let's talk about this captivating print of Johann Melchior Dinglinger by Georg Friedrich Schmidt, dating back to 1769. It resides here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: The first thing I notice is the lavish use of fur; the plush hat and collar radiate a sense of opulent craftsmanship. It's quite imposing. Curator: Dinglinger was, after all, a celebrated goldsmith, renowned for his extravagant creations for the court of Augustus the Strong in Dresden. Schmidt, capturing his likeness, employs meticulous engraving techniques to depict the textures of wealth. Consider the laborious process; each line etched by hand. Editor: Exactly. We should dwell on that. Think about the layers of labor involved in producing an image like this in the 18th century, from the engraver’s skilled hand to the paper-maker’s craft, and even the animal that sourced the fur for his ensemble. And those items of clothing speak volumes about social status, access to global markets. Curator: Absolutely, this image performs the very job that portraits always do. It’s a careful presentation of status. Yet there's a vulnerability there too, don't you think? A slight pensiveness in his gaze that hints at the human behind the craftsman? I am drawn to the soft modelling around his eyes. Editor: Perhaps, though that pensiveness might also stem from the sheer weight of that fur hat! Jokes aside, I find it interesting that such a celebrated creator is memorialized in print. Engravings like these democratized access to images of powerful figures—to a degree, of course. This allowed wider audiences to circulate these images of opulence. Curator: Yes! Prints acted as vital tools for disseminating information and preserving legacy. By transforming Dinglinger into reproducible image, Schmidt enabled his fame to outlive both the man himself and his gilded creations. A rather poignant achievement! Editor: On reflecting, the very materials and means by which Dinglinger’s image has been conveyed adds another dimension to this man’s biography; beyond artistic craftsmanship and commercial context we appreciate something new about how an artist is elevated within their community.