A detailed engraving by Dominicus Custos portraying Frederick William I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, framed by decorative motifs and Latin inscriptions.

This engraving by Dominicus Custos depicts Frederick William I, Duke of Saxe-Weimar, presented within an elaborate oval frame. Custos, a Flemish printmaker who spent much of his career in Augsburg, was known for his technical precision in portraiture. The subject is shown in a three-quarter view, wearing a ruff collar and fur-trimmed garments, which reflect the formal attire of the late sixteenth-century German nobility.

The surrounding frame is characteristic of the period, featuring decorative elements such as masks, fruit garlands, and military motifs. These ornamental details provide a sense of status and authority to the sitter. Below the portrait, a cartouche contains a Latin inscription detailing the titles and roles of the Duke, including his position as Elector of Saxony and Arch-Marshal of the Holy Roman Empire. The phrase 'Sperandum est vivis' is inscribed within the lower portion of the oval border.

Custos utilised fine hatching and cross-hatching techniques to model the facial features and the texture of the fur. The composition follows the conventions of early modern European portrait prints, where the subject is contained within a structured, symbolic environment. This work demonstrates the high level of craftsmanship associated with the print workshops of the era, where such portraits were produced for circulation among the aristocracy and for inclusion in historical chronicles. The clarity of the lines and the balance between the central portrait and the surrounding decorative border are typical of the output from the Custos workshop, which played a role in the dissemination of royal and noble imagery throughout the Holy Roman Empire.