Portret van Johannes, bisschop van Chur 1679

Herman Hendrik Quiter made this portrait of Johannes, Bishop of Chur, using engraving techniques. The oval frame around the subject immediately recalls ancient Roman portraiture, evoking a sense of timeless authority. Consider the bishop’s collar— a stark, white circle. This echoes earlier forms of the ruff, a symbol of status. We see similar collars in portraits of figures like Queen Elizabeth, each fold a declaration of power. But here, it’s simplified, almost austere. The bishop’s gaze is intense, isn’t it? It pulls us in, compelling us to reflect on the enduring human quest for authority, for spiritual and earthly command. This visual language is not linear; it loops back, reappearing throughout history in different guises. The need for symbolic display is, after all, a recurring drama of the human psyche.