Portret van Heinrich Bullinger 1597 - 1599

This is Robert Boissard’s portrait of Heinrich Bullinger, made as an engraving sometime between 1586 and 1691. The image is full of references to Bullinger's status and the cultural context of the Swiss Reformation. Bullinger, a theologian and reformer, is depicted with the symbols of scholarly authority: a book, a writing desk, and the trappings of wealth and status. The Latin inscriptions act as textual framing devices that reinforce the image of a learned and virtuous man, emphasizing his achievements and legacy. Bullinger succeeded Zwingli as the leader of the Zurich church, institutionalizing his doctrines. Understanding Bullinger's role requires knowledge of the Reformation's intellectual and political battles, and the institutional histories of the Swiss churches. To truly grasp the image, we'd need to dig into the archives of the Rijksmuseum and other collections, examining letters, theological tracts, and institutional records. Only then can we understand the public role of this portrait, its place in the visual culture of the Reformation, and the social conditions that shaped its production.