Portret van Conrad Lycosthenes - Johann Franck

A detailed seventeenth-century engraving by Johann Franck, portraying the humanist scholar Conrad Lycosthenes with formal precision.

This engraving by Johann Franck depicts the humanist and scholar Conrad Lycosthenes (1518-1561). The portrait is executed in a traditional style common to seventeenth-century European printmaking, where the subject is presented within a rectangular frame. Lycosthenes is shown in a bust-length view, wearing a cap and a garment typical of the academic or clerical dress of the sixteenth century. His expression is serious, and his beard is rendered with fine, controlled lines that demonstrate the technical precision of the engraver.

The composition is austere, focusing entirely on the likeness of the subject. Below the portrait, the name 'CONRAD LYCOSTHENES' and his title 'Theol. Basileensis' are inscribed in a clear, formal typeface. The surrounding paper includes handwritten annotations in Latin, which provide biographical details about the subject, noting his birth in Alsace and his death in Basel. These annotations are characteristic of archival prints that were often collected or bound into biographical volumes during the period.

Johann Franck, a German engraver, produced this work as part of a broader tradition of recording the faces of notable figures from the Reformation and Renaissance eras. The print relies on cross-hatching and varied line weights to create shadow and volume, particularly within the folds of the clothing and the texture of the beard. The work is a study in historical documentation, capturing the likeness of a man who was known for his encyclopaedic interests and his work on prodigies and omens. The clean lines and minimal background ensure that the focus remains on the individual, reflecting the period's interest in humanism and the preservation of intellectual history through the medium of the printed portrait.