Lot 10 Dα

Inscribed to the upper left: "A:1700 / CONRADE:SCHEIFFART:WAR / 27·IAER:DEN:IO:DAGH:HARD" (presumably retouched). The coat of arms of the House of Merode to the upper right.

The inscription and the crest in both the upper corners identify the depicted as a member of the Scheiffart von Merode family. This family, which died out in 1852, formed one of the three main lines of the important Rhenish noble family of Merode, who were traceable back to the 11th century. The star badge of the Order of St. John, presented in the right hand of the sitter, allows us to identify him as Konrad Scheiffart von Merode zu Weilerswist, who was Commander of the Order in Herrenstrunden from 1621 to 1653. Among the many castles and manors owned by this large family was Burg Kühlseggen bei Weilerswist.