Portret van Christian Fürchtegott Gellert 1775

"Portret van Christian Fürchtegott Gellert" is a 1775 engraving by Johann Elias Haid, depicting the German poet and philosopher Christian Fürchtegott Gellert. The portrait is a bust-length image of Gellert, rendered in a realistic style with subtle shading. It features Gellert in a simple, 18th-century garb, with a touch of elegance in his powdered wig and neatly tied cravat. Gellert's expression is earnest and contemplative, reflecting his intellectual pursuits and his deep engagement with the world. The piece is framed by an oval and a rectangular plaque, which serves as a pedestal and carries an inscription in Latin, emphasizing Gellert's virtues as a writer and intellectual. The portrait highlights Gellert's role as a prominent figure of Enlightenment thought and literature. This engraving, now located in the Rijksmuseum, provides a glimpse into the intellectual and cultural landscape of 18th-century Europe.