Portrait of Peter Scriverius 1588 - 1924

Jan van de Velde II created this engraving, Portrait of Peter Scriverius, in the early 17th century. The portrait presents Scriverius within an oval frame, which rests upon an elaborately decorated pedestal, creating a structured hierarchy of representation. The stark contrast between light and shadow, achieved through meticulous lines, captures the texture of Scriverius's ruffled collar. The inscription encircling the portrait, 'Petrus Scriverius, legendo et scribendo,' frames Scriverius’s identity as a scholar devoted to reading and writing, effectively conveying his intellectual status. The engraving operates as a semiotic system, employing culturally coded visual elements to construct and communicate meaning. The formal composition—with its emphasis on linearity and detailed rendering—mirrors the intellectual rigor associated with Scriverius, reinforcing the portrait's function as a celebration of scholarly pursuit. This fusion of aesthetic form and intellectual content exemplifies how art can challenge established norms and engage with new modes of representation.