15

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

This engraving, titled simply “15,” was created in 1679 by the Swiss artist Conrad Meyer. Working in Zurich during the late Baroque period, Meyer specialized in detailed prints that often formed part of larger series—books of emblems, portraits, or religious subjects. The modest dimensions (roughly 25 by 16 centimeters) and precise line work are typical of engravings designed for wide circulation, allowing images to reach audiences beyond those who could afford paintings. Engraving remained one of the most important reproductive media of the seventeenth century. By incising fine lines into a copper plate, artists like Meyer could achieve remarkable tonal range and clarity, making their work both affordable and portable. Plate number “15” suggests this sheet once belonged to an illustrated volume whose individual prints were later collected separately. A collector’s stamp on the reverse (Lugt 2228) further testifies to the print’s journey through private cabinets over the centuries. Such marks help today’s viewers trace the shifting tastes and preservation habits of print connoisseurs from the Baroque era to the present.

About the Artist

Conrad Meyer · 1618–1689

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