A detailed sixteenth-century engraving by Dominicus Custos, depicting Ferdinand Fugger in formal armour and a ruff collar.

This engraving by Dominicus Custos depicts Ferdinand Fugger, a member of the influential Fugger banking family. Custos, a Flemish printmaker who settled in Augsburg, produced this work during a period when the city functioned as a centre for European finance and print production. The portrait is executed with the technical precision characteristic of late sixteenth-century Northern European printmaking.

The subject is presented within an oval frame, a common convention for portraiture of the era. He wears a ruff collar and polished plate armour, reflecting his status and the martial fashion of the time. The engraving technique employs varied line weights to define the metallic sheen of the breastplate and the soft texture of the lace ruff. Cross-hatching is used to create depth and shadow, particularly around the facial features and the background of the oval, which provides a contrast to the lighter tones of the figure.

Latin text encircles the portrait, identifying the sitter as Ferdinand, son of Johann Jakob Fugger. A further inscription at the base provides a brief eulogistic summary of his character. The work demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship required for portrait series, which were often collected in albums or used as frontispieces for genealogical publications. The composition is balanced and formal, adhering to the rigid standards of aristocratic portraiture. Custos, who was also a publisher, played a role in the dissemination of such images across the continent, helping to establish the visual identity of the merchant nobility. This print remains a clear example of the intersection between commercial print production and the documentation of historical figures in the early modern period.