Portret van Henry More 1679 - 1692

David Loggan created this portrait of Henry More, likely around the late 17th century. During this era, portraiture served not just as a record but as a declaration of social standing and intellectual leaning. More, a Cambridge Platonist, sought to reconcile reason and religious belief, amidst a period of intense scientific and philosophical change. Loggan's engraving captures More's intellectual persona, framing him within the conventions of the time, through dress and presentation. Yet, there’s a tension in the image; the formal setting contrasts with More's own spiritual quest. The trappings of academic and clerical authority—the robe, the collar—speak to established structures, but More’s philosophical explorations ventured into less charted territories of metaphysics and the soul. This portrait then, isn't just a depiction of an individual, but a reflection of the era’s grappling with faith, reason, and the shifting grounds of knowledge. It is a reminder of the deeply personal and emotional dimensions of intellectual life.