Portret van Johann David Michaelis 1788

Eberhard Siegfried Henne made this print of Johann David Michaelis in the late 18th or early 19th century. Michaelis was a well-known biblical scholar and orientalist in Germany. This portrait, with its oval frame and formal inscription, presents Michaelis as a figure of established authority. Note his powdered wig, the details of his coat, and the prominent display of an order or medal. These are all visual cues that signal his status and learning in the intellectual and social landscape of his time. Germany, then part of the Holy Roman Empire, was undergoing significant intellectual and social change with the rise of the Enlightenment and the development of modern universities. Michaelis was a part of these institutions; the print reflects both his personal standing and the broader cultural values of that era. Historical archives, university records, and publications from the period would provide further insights into understanding the nuances of Michaelis's role within the context of German intellectual history and the institutions that shaped it.