32 1 Prologue: When Courtly Art Meets the Present The art created for, or acquired by, the Mecklenburg court forms the foundation of the Schwerin collection. It offers insight into a period of lively artistic and intellectual exchange that left a lasting mark on the European artistic landscape. Artists associated with the court of Mecklenburg, such as Georg David Matthieu (1737–1778), Theodor Schloepke (1812–1878), Johann Heinrich Suhrlandt (1742– 1827), Rudolf Suhrlandt (1781–1862) and Johann Alexander Thiele (1685–1752), were actors in a wide-reaching network of artistic production and reception. Their works reflect the continually shifting aesthetic and political expectations of their courtly patrons. By adopting innovative techniques, fashionable styles and new subjects from leading German and European art centres, these artists significantly enhanced the prestige of the ducal family. The prologue brings art from past and present into direct dialogue, generating fresh insights into both historical and contemporary works. Through unexpected juxtapositions, it becomes clear how the impulses of Baroque and Rococo art continue to resonate today – whether through reinterpretation, reimagining or critical reframing. This exploration addresses not only aesthetic and technical concerns but also social and political themes, including courtly representation and the use of art as a tool to shape identity and to project power. _ SaS
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