Portret van Caspar Thomann

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

### Portrait of Caspar ThomannCreated in 1675 by the Swiss engraver Conrad Meyer,Portret van Caspar Thomann* a finely executed portrait engraving measuring 248 mm high by 158 mm wide. Meyer, active in Zurich during the late Baroque era, was renowned for his detailed reproductive prints and book illustrations, often capturing the likenesses of scholars, merchants, and local dignitaries. This work likely immortalizes Caspar Thomann a figure from 17th-century Swiss or Dutch circles, reflecting the era's fascination with individualized portraiture amid growing middle-class prosperity. Engraving as a medium was pivotal in the 17th century, allowing for precise line work and tonal gradations through intricate burin incisions on a copper plate. Meyer's technique would have emphasized Thomann's facial features, attire, and expression with meticulous cross-hatching, making high-quality impressions affordable for collectors and disseminating the sitter's image widely. Such prints bridged art and commerce, preserving personal legacies in an age before photography. On the verso, this impression bears the stamped collector's mark Lugt 2228, identifying it as part of the esteemed Rijksmuseum collection in Amsterdam. This provenance underscores its enduring cultural value, offering visitors a tangible link to Baroque printmaking traditions and the vibrant exchange of portraits across Europe.

About the Artist

Conrad Meyer · 1618–1689

Comment on works: Portraits; Figures; Landscapes