Portret van Adam Gottlob Moltke 1753

This print by Odoard Helmont von Lode, made sometime before 1757, shows Adam Gottlob Moltke, an important count in the court of Denmark. The image creates meaning through references to the visual codes of aristocratic power. Moltke is shown as a man of the world through the globe, which would have represented the reach of the Danish kingdom. As well as the wig, the clothing, and the setting, all of which indicate that he is a man of wealth and power. Moltke's status as 'Ridder af Elephanten' indicates his membership in the Order of the Elephant, the highest order of knighthood in Denmark, which was usually reserved for royalty or heads of state. This print is an example of how art served an important function in the consolidation of social power, and how institutions like the aristocracy would use images to communicate their authority. To understand images like these, we need to do more research into Danish history and understand the social and political role of art in Denmark at the time.