Portret van David Gloxin 1649

This is an engraving of David Gloxin by Pieter de Jode II, made sometime in the 17th century. As a syndic of Lübeck, Gloxin was part of the patrician class that dominated the Hanseatic city-states during the Baroque era. The image creates meaning through visual codes that would have been familiar to its contemporary audience. The elaborate frame, the Latin inscription, and Gloxin's dress all contribute to an image of wealth, authority, and classical learning. The coat-of-arms above Gloxin's head marks his family's place within a rigid social hierarchy. This image underscores the importance of social position and honor in the early modern period. To more fully understand this image, we would need to investigate the complex social, political, and economic history of the Hanseatic League. What was the role of cities like Lübeck in international trade? How did their elites manage their wealth and power? What did they see as their place in the wider world? The answers to these questions would help us better understand this portrait and the man it depicts.