Portret van Bonefacius Amerbach 1759 - 1815

Heinrich Pfenninger created this portrait of Bonefacius Amerbach using etching, a printmaking technique, sometime between 1749 and 1815. This piece reflects the 18th century’s fascination with the Renaissance humanist tradition. Amerbach, a 16th-century jurist and scholar, was known for his extensive collection of books and manuscripts. Here, he’s depicted with a thoughtful expression, his attire suggesting a man of learning and status. The choice to portray Amerbach, centuries after his death, speaks to the Enlightenment era's interest in classical knowledge and virtue. Pfenninger's print is a cultural artifact; it is both a portrait of a man and a statement about the values of a later era. It invites us to reflect on how each generation interprets and reclaims the past.