Portret van Jacob Christian von Schaeffer 1786 - 1787

Curator: Here we have Johann Elias Haid's engraving, "Portret van Jacob Christian von Schaeffer," created around 1786 or 1787. It’s currently housed here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: He looks rather serious! The stark contrast and that wonderfully elaborate ruff… It gives him a certain…gravitas, doesn’t it? A proper scholar indeed. Almost makes you want to break into baroque opera. Curator: Indeed. Schaeffer was, as the inscription details, a prominent theologian and natural scientist. His roles within religious and scientific societies are prominently listed beneath the portrait itself, really emphasizing his esteemed position within 18th century intellectual circles. The print speaks to the emerging importance of the academies in shaping social standing. Editor: So, almost like a really fancy academic CV etched into copper? I love the dedication to detail in the face though—those fine lines really bring out his character. It's like you can almost see his thoughts swirling behind his eyes. Also, holding a book. How wonderfully symbolic! Curator: The book is of course a symbol, emphasizing his scholarship, but it also conforms to portraiture conventions of the time. There's a definite emphasis on rationalism—a common thread throughout the Neo-classical period to which this print belongs. Look at the way he is centered, enclosed within the clean lines of the oval border, with an equal distribution of textual information and image, that creates a real feeling of order. Editor: It makes one wonder if Herr Schaeffer ever kicked back with a glass of wine and a less…orderly read, or if his entire existence was this meticulously curated! Curator: (chuckles) Perhaps we'll never know. Regardless, this print allows us to consider the status of science during the Enlightenment era, when scientific discoveries were tied to civic progress. Editor: A fitting legacy, captured perfectly in monochrome! It’s funny how an image from so long ago can still spark our curiosity, isn't it?