Portret van Gabriel Hartung 1692 - 1704

This is a portrait of Gabriel Hartung, made in the late 17th century by Leonhard Heckenauer. It’s a formal image, carefully composed to convey Hartung’s status and character. As a pastor and superintendent, Hartung was a figure of considerable social importance in his community. The portrait reflects this, presenting him as a learned and respected leader. Note the book, likely a religious text, symbolizing his knowledge and devotion. The Latin inscription further reinforces this image, praising his merits and venerable authority. Heckenauer’s print offers a window into the social hierarchies and cultural values of the time. To understand its full meaning, we might turn to church records, local histories, and biographical accounts of figures like Hartung, piecing together a picture of the world in which he lived and the institutions he served. After all, art like this is never just a picture; it’s a document of its time.