Portret van Sibylla Ursula von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel - Balthasar Kühn

A formal seventeenth-century engraving by Balthasar Kühn depicting Sibylla Ursula von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel within an architectural frame.

This engraving by Balthasar Kühn depicts Sibylla Ursula von Braunschweig-Wolfenbüttel, a figure of the seventeenth-century German nobility. The work follows the conventions of aristocratic portraiture from the period, presenting the subject within an oval frame that mimics a stone architectural niche. The surrounding border contains Latin inscriptions detailing her titles and lineage, a common practice for formal portrait prints intended for circulation among the elite.

Kühn employs precise line work to define the textures of the subject's attire. The lace collar and the decorative elements of her bodice are rendered with careful attention to detail, reflecting the status of the sitter. Her expression is composed, and her posture is frontal, adhering to the formal requirements of seventeenth-century portraiture. The lower section of the print features a cartouche containing a Latin poem, which serves to praise the virtues of the subject. This combination of visual representation and textual commentary is typical of the era, where the image functioned as both a record of appearance and a vehicle for moral or social messaging.

As an engraver active in the mid-seventeenth century, Kühn produced works that were often used as frontispieces or illustrations for books and genealogical records. The clarity of the lines and the balanced composition demonstrate the technical proficiency expected of a professional printmaker of the time. This print offers a clear view into the aesthetic preferences of the German Baroque, where order, symmetry, and classical references were highly valued. The monochrome palette focuses the viewer on the character of the sitter and the symbolic weight of the accompanying text. This piece is a representative example of the portrait engraving tradition, providing a historical record of the nobility through the medium of print.