Portret van Menno Simons - Cornelis Koning

A detailed seventeenth-century engraving of the Anabaptist leader Menno Simons, presented in a traditional oval frame with accompanying Dutch verse.

This engraving by Cornelis Koning depicts Menno Simons, the influential Anabaptist leader and namesake of the Mennonites. The portrait is presented within an oval frame, a common convention for seventeenth-century Dutch portraiture. The subject is shown in a bust-length view, wearing a simple dark robe and a small cap, reflecting the austere aesthetic associated with his religious movement. His expression is calm, with a long, flowing beard that adds a sense of gravity to his features.

The surrounding oval frame contains text detailing his origins, specifically noting his birth in Witmarsum, Friesland, in 1496. Below the portrait, a block of Dutch verse provides a eulogistic summary of his theological contributions. The engraving technique demonstrates the precision typical of the period, with fine hatching used to model the contours of the face and the texture of the fabric. The contrast between the dark, solid tones of the clothing and the lighter, more detailed rendering of the face draws the viewer's attention to the subject's character.

Cornelis Koning, active in the mid-seventeenth century, produced this work as a commemorative image. Such prints were often circulated among religious communities to maintain the memory of their founders. The inclusion of the Latinate 'excudit' (meaning 'he published it') indicates the commercial nature of the print, which was likely sold to followers or collectors of historical portraiture. The work remains a clear example of the intersection between religious history and the printmaking traditions of the Dutch Golden Age, where portraiture served both as a record of individual identity and a vehicle for ideological expression.