Portret van Samuel Friedrich Nathanael Morus 1792

This is Johann Heinrich Lips's portrait of Samuel Friedrich Nathanael Morus. The sitter, encircled as if in a coin, presents himself in clerical attire. A white wig sits atop his head, framing his face. Consider this circular frame. Throughout history, from ancient coins to Renaissance medallions, the circle has symbolized completeness, eternity, and the infinite. In portraiture, it often denotes the subject's lasting legacy or their integration into a broader cultural continuum. Think of Roman emperors stamped onto coins, their profiles meant to immortalize their reign. Morus, encircled, enters this lineage. Subconsciously, the viewer perceives him as part of an unbroken chain of historical figures. This engraving is not just a likeness; it's an assertion of cultural memory, reminding us that even in representation, figures like Morus are destined to reappear, their influence rippling through time.