Portret van Joannes Michael Cigala

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Portret van Joannes Cigala** is a refined engraving by Johann Georg Ment, a German artist active from 1687 to 1743. This small-scale portrait, measuring 150 high by 88mm wide, depicts Joannes Michael Cigala whose identity suggests a figure of intellectual or cultural note in the late Baroque era. Created during a time when printmaking flourished in Europe, it exemplifies how engravings preserved and circulated likenesses of prominent individuals across social circles. Engraving technique—carving intricate lines into a metal plate with a burin—allowed Mentzel to achieve precise details in features, clothing, and expression, hallmarks of 17th- and 18th-century portraiture. This medium's reproducibility made such works accessible beyond oil paintings, serving collectors, scholars, and book illustrations, and underscoring the era's growing appreciation for portable art. Bearing the collector's mark Lugt 2228, this piece carries a rich provenance, linking it to esteemed historical collections. It invites us to ponder Cigala's world while celebrating Mentzel's mastery in capturing human essence on a miniature canvas.