Portret van Johannes Bogerman 1619

This engraving portrays Johannes Bogerman, a prominent figure in the Synod of Dordrecht. Note the scroll in his hand, a symbol of knowledge and authority. Such objects have roots stretching far back to ancient Greece and Rome, where scrolls held philosophical texts. Here, the scroll signifies Bogerman's role as a scholar and theologian. See how the depiction of the scroll evolves. It appears in medieval illuminations as sacred texts, and then in Renaissance portraits as emblems of humanism and learning. This portrait engages us with Bogerman’s stern gaze and the symbolic weight of the scroll. It evokes a sense of intellectual gravitas, reflecting the subject's deep involvement in religious discourse. A gesture that transcends centuries, constantly shifting in meaning as it resurfaces through the ages.