Portretten van priesters van Zürich

About this artwork

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Art Historical Context

Created in 1685 by Swiss artist Conrad Meyer, *Portretten van priesters van Zürich* is a finely detailed engraving measuring 240 by 148 millimeters. The work presents portraits of Zurich’s clergy, capturing the likenesses of religious leaders in a compact print format typical of the late seventeenth century. As an engraving, it reflects the period’s growing use of printmaking to circulate images of notable civic and religious figures across Swiss cities and beyond. Meyer, active in Zurich, employed the precise lines and tonal contrasts of engraving to convey both individual character and institutional dignity. Such portraits served not only as personal records but also as visual affirmations of the Reformed Church’s role in Zurich’s governance and community life during a time of relative stability following the Thirty Years’ War. Today the print offers viewers a glimpse into the intersection of faith, civic identity, and artistic technique in early modern Switzerland, illustrating how modest-sized engravings helped preserve and share the faces of local spiritual leaders for generations.

About the Artist

Conrad Meyer · 1618–1689

Comment on works: Portraits; Figures; Landscapes