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An Elector of the Holy Roman Emperor
This is a nice original color example of a cartographic curiosity that blends symbolism, genealogy, and political power.
This is the third plate in a series of four, depicting a stylized, colossal figure of an Elector of the Holy Roman Empire. The Elector is depicted in full ceremonial robes, which are uniquely covered with tabular lists, detailing the rulers of the Holy Roman Empire, including its princes, electors, and dukes. This extensive genealogical display is designed to educate viewers on the complex political landscape of the empire.
To the left of the figure is a pillar adorned with numerous heraldic coats of arms, representing the various noble houses and territories within the empire, adding a visual and symbolic reference to their authority and heritage. On the right side of the image, we see a crown and a chair of state, denoting the office of power and the ceremonious position held by the Elector.
The chart at the top right, titled Clavis Characterum, provides a key to the symbols used on the robe, categorizing the various rulers based on their reigns and actions. The symbols include depictions of rulers who were famous, wealthy, victorious in war, or who faced misfortune, among other characteristics. This allows viewers to quickly assess the historical significance of each ruler’s tenure. The engraving emphasizes the grandeur and complexity of the Holy Roman Empire’s system of governance, with its overlapping authorities and the intricate web of noble families, making it a fascinating historical document for scholars of early modern Europe.
Matthäus Seutter (1678-1757) was a prominent German mapmaker in the mid-eighteenth century. Initially apprenticed to a brewer, he trained as an engraver under Johann Baptist Homann in Nuremburg before setting up shop in his native Augsburg. In 1727 he was granted the title Imperial Geographer. His most famous work is Atlas Novus Sive Tabulae Geographicae, published in two volumes ca. 1730, although the majority of his maps are based on earlier work by other cartographers like the Homanns, Delisles, and de Fer.
Alternative spellings: Matthias Seutter, Mathaus Seutter, Matthaeus Seutter, Mattheus Seutter
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