Portret van Jakob Freiesleben op 58-jarige leeftijd

About this artwork

Met lofdicht in het Latijn.

Art Historical Context

**Portrait of Jakob Freiesleben Age 58** by Johann Dürr (7–1663) a dignified moment from the Dutch Golden Age, a period when portraiture flourished amid economic prosperity and cultural patronage. Engraved on a modest plate measuring 201 × 123 mm, this work depicts Freiesleben, likely a notable figure of his time, rendered with the precise lines characteristic of 17th-century printmaking. Dürr, a skilled engr active in the Germanic-Dutch artistic sphere, exemplifies the era's mastery in translating portrait likenesses into reproducible art. Engraving's technique—incising designs into a metal plate for inked impressions—allowed for detailed textures like fabric folds and facial nuances, making high-quality portraits accessible beyond oil paintings reserved for the elite. This medium democratized imagery, circulating Freiesleben's visage among scholars and merchants. A special touch is the accompanying *lofdicht* (eulogy poem) in Latin, a nod to classical humanism. Such inscriptions praised the sitter's virtues, underscoring the artwork's role in 17th-century commemorative culture, where portraits blended personal legacy with erudite tribute. Visitors, admire how this small gem bridges artistry and remembrance!

About the Artist

Johann Dürr · 1600–1663

Johann Dürr (1600–1663) was a German copperplate engraver who worked primarily in Weimar during the mid-17th century, producing prints for court and scholarly patrons during the tumultuous period of the Thirty Years' War. Born in 1600, Dürr's career spanned one of the most devastating periods in German history, when religious conflict and military campaigns brought widespread destruction to German...