Portret van Johann Ludwig Hartmann 1685 - 1706

This engraving of Johann Ludwig Hartmann was produced by Johann Friedlein. The portrait memorializes Hartmann's position in society, referencing his work as a Doctor of Theology and Superintendent, revealing the importance of religious figures in the period it was made, between 1640 and 1680. We see the sitter framed within an oval border, inscribed with Latin text, to mark his importance, the formal language also indicates the importance of Latin and the church. The composition is a visual code to those in the know, clearly defining his position and education. This image would have served as a means of solidifying Hartmann's position, confirming a social hierarchy of religious, educated men, with the arts here working to bolster power. Historians can research the archives of religious institutions of the period, studying patronage networks and the social status of religious leaders to fully understand the social conditions that shaped this artwork and its cultural function.