Portretten van priesters van Zürich

About this artwork

gravure

Art Historical Context

Created in 1685 by Swiss artist Conrad Meyer, *Portretten van priesters van Zürich* offers a striking glimpse into the religious life of late seventeenth-century Zurich. This engraving, measuring just 238 by 148 millimeters, presents a series of clerical portraits that reflect the city’s Protestant heritage during a period when religious identity remained central to civic life. Meyer, working in his native Zurich, specialized in detailed printmaking that combined portraiture with historical documentation. Engraving was a favored medium at the time for its ability to reproduce fine lines and textures, allowing images to circulate widely among scholars, clergy, and collectors. The compact format suggests the work may have been intended as a book illustration or a commemorative sheet, preserving the likenesses of Zurich’s ministers for posterity. Through precise line work, Meyer conveys both individual character and the dignity of ecclesiastical office. Today the print stands as a valuable record of Baroque-era religious culture in Switzerland, illustrating how art served to honor spiritual leaders while showcasing the technical refinement of seventeenth-century printmaking.

About the Artist

Conrad Meyer · 1618–1689

Comment on works: Portraits; Figures; Landscapes