Portretten van burgemeesters van Zürich

About this artwork

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Art Historical Context

### Portretten van Burgemeesters van Zürich Created by the Swiss engraver Conrad Meyer 1669 and 1689, *Portretten van Burgters van Zürich* is a series of engravings depicting the mayors (burgemeesters) of Zurich. Measuring 245 × 152 mm, these portraits capture the civic leaders of a prosperous Swiss city during the late Baroque era. Zurich, a key center of the Protestant Reformation and the Swiss Confederacy, valued such commemorative works to honor its governing elite, reflecting the era's emphasis on civic pride and stable republican governance amid Europe's turbulent monarchies. Meyer's mastery of engraving—a meticulous intaglio technique where lines are incised into a metal plate for inked impressions—allowed for precise detailing of facial features, attire, and symbolic attributes like chains of office. This medium was ideal for producing multiples, making elite portraits accessible beyond the elite circles. As one of Zurich's foremost 17th-century printmakers, Meyer's series not only preserved the likenesses of these influential figures but also served as a visual chronicle of local history, blending portraiture with documentary intent. Today, these engravings offer a window into Swiss urban life, showcasing the dignified restraint of Protestant portrait traditions against the opulence of contemporary European courts. A testament to endurance, the project spanned two decades, culminating around Meyer's death in 1689.

About the Artist

Conrad Meyer · 1618–1689

Comment on works: Portraits; Figures; Landscapes