Portret van Peter Werenfels 1699 - 1712

Johannes Meyer the Younger created this engraving of Peter Werenfels in Switzerland around 1709. Werenfels was a professor of theology, and this portrait speaks to the social and intellectual position he held within his community. The image’s meaning arises from visual cues embedded within the cultural and institutional context of its time. Werenfels’s clothing and the laurel wreath framing him indicate his status as a respected intellectual. Meanwhile, the Latin inscription below emphasizes his theological credentials and age, reinforcing an image of learned authority. Switzerland at this time was marked by strong religious and intellectual traditions. The institutional structures of universities and churches played crucial roles in shaping social and political life. Portraits like these were not mere likenesses but statements about social roles. Understanding this artwork means delving into the history of Swiss Protestantism, exploring the role of universities in shaping intellectual thought, and researching the codes of dress and portraiture. Only through this deep research can the full social and institutional context of a work like this come to light.