Portret van de dichter en predikant Matthias Jorissen

About this artwork

height 210 mm x width 150 mm

Art Historical Context

**Portret van de dichter en predikant Matthiasissen** (Portrait of the Poet and Pre Matthias Jorissen), created in 1796 by British engraver Charles Howard Hodges captures the likeness of a notable Dutch literary and religious figure. Hodges, who had relocated to Amsterdam by the 1790s, specialized in finely detailed portrait engravings, often reproducing paintings of prominent intellectuals and clergy. This intimate work, measuring 210 mm high by 150 mm wide, reflects the Enlightenment-era fascination with multifaceted individuals like Jorissen, who bridged poetry and pulpit oratory in the Netherlands during the turbulent shift to the Batavian Republic. As an engraving, the piece showcases Hodges' mastery of the intaglio technique, where intricate lines are incised into a metal plate, inked, and pressed onto paper to yield rich contrasts and subtle textures. This medium was revolutionary for its time, enabling affordable dissemination of elite portraits beyond oil paintings reserved for the wealthy. The precise hatching and stippling likely evoke Jorissen's thoughtful demeanor, emphasizing his dual role as a creative wordsmith and spiritual guide. Housed in collections today, this engraving offers a window into late 18th-century Dutch cultural life, where art celebrated humanism amid political change. Visitors will appreciate its technical elegance and the story it tells of a man whose verses and sermons inspired his era.

About the Artist

Charles Howard Hodges · 1764–1837

Comment on works: Portraits; Engraver