Portret van Mericus Casaubon c. 1669 - 1731

This engraving of Mericus Casaubon was created by Pieter van Gunst in the late 17th or early 18th century. Casaubon was a classical scholar and writer during a time of significant intellectual and religious transformation in Europe. Consider how class and education might have shaped Casaubon’s identity and how it's portrayed here. His clothing and the Latin text denote not just status but the immense privilege of education during this period. In portraits like this, the sitter is frequently idealized. Yet, as viewers, we are compelled to consider who is included and excluded from this world of intellectual prestige. The deliberate construction of identity in portraiture serves not only to immortalize but also to project particular values and virtues. This image prompts us to consider the power dynamics inherent in representation and the ways in which individuals from marginalized backgrounds are often left out of these historical narratives.