Moritz Oppenheim, the Rothschilds, and the Construction of Jewish Identity

This thesis provides an overview of Moritz Daniel Oppenheim\u27s portraits of the Rothschild family with attention paid to the artist\u27s training and personal artistic pursuits, as well as participation in Gentile and Jewish discourses. Oppenheim\u27s knowledge of art history and use of style in creating the identities of his Rothschild subjects are the focus of this study. Oppenheim\u27s methods and use of art historical styles are discussed with deference to the public or private nature of the portraits, and the resulting works\u27 engagement of both German and Jewish issues. Methodologies used include the history of style and identity theory