Portret van Johann von Muralt 1655 - 1699

This print of Johann von Muralt was made by Cornelis Nicolaus Schurtz in Nuremberg in the late 17th century. Muralt was a Swiss physician and member of the Academia Naturae Curiosorum, or Academy of Scientific Discovery. The portrait celebrates Muralt’s status as a public figure, a doctor whose ‘genius’ is spoken of by ‘public fame.’ It is framed by references to his academic achievements and scientific curiosity. The Latin text and emblematic imagery – such as the crests representing Muralt’s family and academic affiliations – are visual codes that speak to the society of learned men that Muralt inhabited. These institutions played a vital role in shaping the production and dissemination of knowledge at this time. As art historians, our role is to unpack the ways in which portraits like this functioned within the social and intellectual networks of the period. By consulting archival sources, such as membership records, correspondence, and publications, we can better understand the networks of patronage and scientific exchange that gave meaning to this image.