A formal 1733 copperplate engraving by Johann Martin Bernigeroth, depicting the Leipzig senator Gottfried Graevius in traditional eighteenth-century attire.

This engraving by Johann Martin Bernigeroth depicts Gottfried Graevius, a jurist and senator of Leipzig. Produced in 1733, the work captures the formal conventions of eighteenth-century portraiture. Graevius is shown in a seated pose, wearing a voluminous periwig and a cravat, which were standard markers of status for the professional classes of the period. His attire, rendered with precise lines, suggests the texture of heavy velvet and fine lace.

The composition employs a classic arrangement for scholarly or civic portraits. A heavy curtain hangs in the background, providing a sense of depth and formality. To the left, a stone ledge and a glimpse of a classical urn suggest an architectural setting, grounding the figure within a space of intellectual or civic authority. The artist uses cross-hatching and varied line weights to model the form of the subject and the folds of his clothing, creating a sense of volume and weight.

Bernigeroth, a member of a prominent family of engravers based in Leipzig, was known for his technical proficiency in copperplate engraving. This print includes a Latin inscription at the base, identifying the subject as a doctor of law and a senator, while providing his birth and death dates. Such prints were often produced to commemorate public figures or to serve as frontispieces for academic publications. The clarity of the line work and the balanced composition reflect the disciplined approach of the period to portraiture, where the aim was to convey the dignity and social standing of the sitter through controlled, formal visual language. The print remains a clear example of the graphic arts tradition in Saxony during the mid-eighteenth century.