Portret van Johann Fabricius 1555 - 1685

This is Jakob Lucius the Elder's portrait of Johann Fabricius, made in 1685. Created with woodcut printing, it serves as a commemorative image of a man of the church. But this is no simple portrait of a man. It's an image deeply embedded in its time and place. Notice how the inscription above the figure stresses Fabricius's lineage of clergymen, doctors and scholars. The details situate Fabricius within a network of family, church and civic institutions of 16th century Nuremberg. The portrait testifies to the cultural authority of the church as well as the important function of religious imagery. The inscription below, quoting the Book of Daniel, links the wise teacher with the eternal stars. The image also exemplifies the institution of printmaking in Germany during the Reformation era. It's a potent reminder that images are not just representations, but active participants in the social and political life of their time. To understand this artwork better, we might examine local archives for more information about the Fabricius family and the history of the church in Nuremberg.