Portret van Johannes Indagine 1597 - 1599

Robert Boissard created this engraving of Johannes Indagine sometime between 1586 and 1691. It presents us with more than just a portrait; it's a window into the world of a 16th-century astrologer and theologian. The inscription 'Theologus & Astrologus' framing Indagine's image is revealing. In that era, the lines between science and faith were blurred, and astrology held sway over medicine and politics. The tools on the desk, the book, the inkwell, and the scroll, speak to the power of knowledge. A knowledge, which was the privilege of a select few, usually men of a certain class and education. This portrait doesn't merely capture an individual; it reflects the societal values and intellectual climate of its time. It invites us to consider the historical context that shaped not only Indagine's identity, but also the very fabric of early modern Europe.