Portret van Dietrich Veit 1555

This portrait of Dietrich Veit was made in the 16th century by Jakob Lucius the Elder, probably as a woodcut or engraving. The print presents us with an image of a man who was, as the inscription tells us, a faithful doctor of the Christian church. The image’s visual codes reveal something of the status of religious figures in the Germany of its time. The Reformation had happened just a few decades before this image was made, and Nuremberg, where Veit lived and preached, had officially adopted Lutheranism in 1525. Veit’s sober dress and modest presentation reflect the Protestant ethos of the time, emphasizing piety and learning over ostentation. The coats of arms at the top of the image, though, remind us of the continuing importance of family and lineage in this society. To better understand this artwork, we could consult local archives, church records, and books and pamphlets from the period. All of these sources can provide more insight into the intertwined social, religious, and political worlds in which it was made.