Portret van Christoph Jacob Waldstromer von Reichelsdorf - Johann Adam Schweickart

A formal eighteenth-century engraving by Johann Adam Schweickart, depicting the Nuremberg official Christoph Jacob Waldstromer von Reichelsdorf.

This engraving by Johann Adam Schweickart depicts Christoph Jacob Waldstromer von Reichelsdorf, a figure of authority in eighteenth-century Nuremberg. The composition follows the conventions of formal portraiture from the period, presenting the subject in a half-length pose behind a table. He wears a heavy, fur-trimmed coat and a formal wig, which signify his social standing and professional role. His right hand is extended in a gesture of address, while his left rests near a hat placed upon the table surface.

In the background, a framed image shows a manor house, likely a family estate, which serves to ground the subject within his property and lineage. The lower portion of the print features an elaborate cartouche containing the subject's name and titles in Latin, alongside a coat of arms. This inclusion of heraldry and biographical text is typical of the era, where prints functioned as both personal records and public displays of status. Schweickart, a German engraver active in the mid-to-late eighteenth century, demonstrates technical precision in his handling of the burin. The varying textures of the fur, the lace at the cuffs, and the smooth surface of the table are rendered through a controlled system of lines and cross-hatching. The lighting is balanced, creating a sense of volume and presence for the sitter. This work provides a clear example of the formal portrait print, a medium that allowed for the dissemination of likenesses among the European aristocracy and the professional classes of the time. The print remains a useful document for those interested in the visual culture of the Holy Roman Empire.