Portret van Johann Adam Lonicerus

About this artwork

Mogelijk prent uit: Boissard, Jean-Jacques; Bry, Theodoor de; e.a. Bibliotheca sive thesaurus virtutis et gloriae in quo continentur illustrium eruditione et doctrina virorum effigies et vitae (...). Frankfurt: Guilielmi Fitzeri, 1628. Dit portret wijkt stilistisch af van de andere beschreven portretten.

Art Historical Context

**Portret van Johann Adamonicerus** is a delicate engraving by Robert Boissard, between 1597 and1599. Measuring just 140 mm high by 105 mm wide, this intimate portrait captures Johann Adam Lonicerus, figure of scholarly renown during the Renaissance era. Engravings like this were prized for their precision and reproducibility, allowing detailed images to grace books and reach wide audiences across Europe. This print may originate from the 1628 Frankfurt publication *Bibliotheca sivesaurus virtutis et gloriae*, compiled by Jean-Jacques Boissard, Theodor de Bry, and others—a grand compendium celebrating the lives and likenesses of erudite men whose intellect embodied virtue and glory. Such works reflected the humanist fascination with preserving the legacies of learned individuals amid the intellectual fervor of the late 16th century. Notably, this portrait stands out stylistically from others in the series, perhaps showcasing Boissard's unique approach to line work or expression. Engravings from this period, often produced on metal plates, highlight the era's mastery of fine detail, making scholarly icons accessible and immortal in print form. A charming window into Renaissance portraiture!

About the Artist

Robert Boissard · 1586–1691

Robert Boissard (c. 1570–after 1630) was a French engraver and draughtsman whose work exemplifies the transition from late Renaissance to early Baroque printmaking in France. Born around 1570 in Valence, Boissard belonged to an artistic family and was a relative of the distinguished scholar and artist Jean-Jacques Boissard (1528–1602), whose monumental biographical and archaeological publications ...