Portret van Johannes Borgesius 1654

Steven van Lamsweerde made this portrait of Johannes Borgesius as an engraving in 1648. The portrait is framed within an oval that includes an inscription noting Borgesius's age. This image speaks to the social structures of the Dutch Golden Age, particularly the value placed on intellectual and professional achievement. The inscription tells us that Borgesius was a doctor of medicine and professor of mathematics. Note the Latin inscription below the portrait, a language of scholarship, emphasizing Borgesius's education. It's likely this print was commissioned to celebrate Borgesius's accomplishments. Engravings like these circulated widely, acting as a form of public recognition and contributing to the subject's legacy. By studying such portraits alongside other historical documents, we can gain insight into the cultural values and social hierarchies of 17th-century Netherlands.