A 1617 engraving by the workshop of Dominicus Custos, featuring a formal portrait of the clergyman Bartholomaeus Rülichs with accompanying German verse.

This engraving, produced in 1617, depicts the clergyman Bartholomaeus Rülichs. The work is attributed to the workshop of Dominicus Custos, a Flemish printmaker who established a significant presence in Augsburg. The portrait follows the conventions of early seventeenth-century clerical iconography, presenting the subject in a formal, bust-length pose. Rülichs is shown wearing a traditional ruff collar and a dark, heavy robe, holding a small book that signifies his scholarly and religious vocation.

The composition is framed by a decorative border featuring repeating foliate motifs, a common stylistic choice for printed portraits of the period. Above the subject, a cartouche contains the Latin inscription 'Dies dabit ultima PACEM', while the lower section includes a German verse reflecting on the duties and trials of a teacher of the faith. The engraving technique demonstrates the precision characteristic of the Augsburg school, with fine cross-hatching used to model the contours of the face and the texture of the fabric.

Dominicus Custos was known for his contributions to the dissemination of portraiture through print. Although he died in 1612, his workshop continued to operate under his name, producing works that served both commemorative and didactic purposes. This print provides a clear example of the intersection between religious life and the graphic arts in the Holy Roman Empire. The clarity of the line work and the balanced arrangement of text and image make it a representative specimen of the period's print culture. It offers a glimpse into the visual language used to document the figures of the Reformation era, prioritising a sober and dignified representation of the subject.