Portret van Philipp Conrad Marheineke

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Portret van Philipp Conrad Marineke** is a delicate etching by Ludwig Emil Grimm, the brother of the famed fairy-tale collectors Jacob and Wilhelm Grimm. Created sometime between 1800 and1846, this intimate portrait captures Philipp Conrad Marineke, a prominent theologian known for his influential work in Hegelian philosophy and church history. At 221 mm high by 160 mm wide, compact scale suggests it was designed for personal appreciation or scholarly exchange, reflecting the era's growing interest in printed likenesses of intellectuals. Etching, Grimm's favored medium, allowed for precise, expressive lines etched into a metal plate with acid, producing rich tonal variations and fine details ideal for portraiture. As a master engraver in the Romantic tradition, Grimm infused his works with emotional depth and realism, bridging the Biedermeier emphasis on domestic intimacy with the intellectual fervor of early 19th-century Germany. This technique made high-quality reproductions accessible, democratizing portraiture beyond oil paintings reserved for the elite. Bearing the collector's mark Lugt 2228, the print boasts a distinguished provenance, linking it to esteemed European collections. It offers a window into the cultural nexus of art, literature, and theology during a transformative period, inviting visitors to ponder the faces behind history's ideas.

About the Artist

Ludwig Emil Grimm · 1790–1863

Comment on works: engraver