Portret van Johann Joseph Natter

About this artwork

Prent gebruikt in: Natter, Johann Joseph. Twaalf leerredenen, bij onderscheidene gelegenheden opgesteld en uitgesproken. Amsterdam: Jan Steven van Esveldt-Holtrop, 1807.

Art Historical Context

**Portret van Johann Joseph Natter** *Pieter van der Meulen ca. 1807* Engraving on paper,150 × 125 mmThis delicate engraving captures the likeness of Johann Joseph Natter a Dutch preacher whose thoughtful visage graces the frontispiece of his 1807 publication *Twaalf leerred* ("Twelve Sermons"), printed in Amsterdam by Jan Steven van Esveldt-Holtrop. Created by Pieter van der Meulen, a skilled Dutch engraver active in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the portrait exemplifies the era's tradition of honoring authors with intimate, authoritative images. At just 15 by 12.5 cm, it's a modest yet precise work, likely intended for bookbinding, inviting readers into Natter's spiritual reflections delivered on various occasions. Van der Meulen's technique highlights the finesse of copperplate engraving on paper, a popular medium for book illustrations during the Dutch Enlightenment's tail end. Fine lines convey Natter's dignified expression and clerical attire, blending realism with symbolic reverence—common in Protestant publications amid Napoleonic influences on the Netherlands. This artwork offers a window into early 19th-century religious culture, where printed portraits democratized access to influential figures, bridging personal devotion and public discourse in Amsterdam's vibrant printmaking scene.

About the Artist

Pieter van der Meulen · 1638–1738

This artist went to London in 1670 where he painted battle scenes.