Maximiliaan Frans van Oostenrijk, bisschop en keurvorst van Keulen 1801 - 1813

Wilhelm Arndt made this print of Maximilian Francis of Austria, Elector of Cologne, sometime around the turn of the 19th century. He used etching to give the image its detailed, linear quality. Maximilian Francis belonged to the high nobility of the Holy Roman Empire, and prints like this one served to circulate his image among the public. Note the care with which Arndt depicts his clerical robes and insignia. These details spoke to the complex social hierarchies of the time. Maximilian Francis wasn't just a religious figure; he was also a political leader in a society where the church held significant power. To understand this image fully, we must delve into the political and religious history of the Holy Roman Empire and the role of the Catholic Church. The resources available here at the Rijksmuseum and in other archives can help us better understand the social forces at play in Arndt's work.