Saint Nicholas thoughts
Johannes Heidecker
Economic advisor, supporting companies and countries in ???? Western, Central and South East Europe to do better business
Happy Saint Nicholas!
The above painting shows the imperial family on December 6th in a rather unusual way. Not the 'heroic' style in uniforms and glory dresses, but the emperor in a dressing gown, the empress serving breakfast, archduke Maximilian hiding under the table and sneaking cookies.
It could be seen as the first "home story", not showing the ruler in a mighty and glory position, but as a family like every other citizen.
This humble picture of one of the most powerful rulers of her time should be seen in the historic context which has many parallels with today: The Silesian and the ongoing Seven years war raged the continent. A malicious ruler in Prussia tried to increase his territory with adventurous actions. Europe debated if it was possible that a woman could govern an Empire like Austria while her husband had a weak position in the multi-facetted disunited 'Holy Roman Empire of German Nations'. The economy needed new impulses in face of the slowly starting industrialization and upcoming innovations like looms or potatoes. How to integrate the Western Balkans whose population had thinned out and was economically weak?
Maria Theresia choose not to show herself as an Iron Lady. She invited advisors on merit, many of them foreign, to consult her. She integrated her husband in her affairs, also technically he had nothing to say. She reformed governance with the installation of professional administrations, reformed the army, reformed the health system, introduced mandatory education - also for females. She incited a justice reform, supported the economy, created more equal taxes. The multiethnic reanimation of the Balkan region under her governance was started. All this while building several castles and having 16 children.
What has all this to do with this painting, made by her daughter (also there is some dispute if she had help)? The fact that such a painting could be "published" shows that she remained a humble person, to herself and to others. There is no similar picture of todays mighty politicians. She choose a specific day, St. Nicholas - the day to commemorate an archbishop who helped the poor, which is why St. Nicholas is venerated.
Maybe this day and this painting can bring us to some positive thoughts on this day in times when politics, war, gender conflicts, economic issues and Balkan and other issues are raging again.
Happy Saint Nicholas day!