Portret van David Millius 1742 - 1750

Jacob Houbraken made this print of David Millius in the 18th century, and it resides here in the Rijksmuseum. As a professor of theology and oriental languages at the University of Utrecht, Millius was part of a powerful institutional system of knowledge production. Prints like this one played a crucial role in circulating images of intellectual authority. Notice how the Latin inscriptions and formal attire reinforce Millius's learned status. The image presents him as a figure worthy of respect within the Republic of Letters, the predominantly male network of scholars that spanned across Europe. This print speaks to the social hierarchies embedded within academic institutions of the time. Further research into the University of Utrecht’s archives would reveal more about Millius's career and the social dynamics of his intellectual community. The meaning of this work depends on understanding the specific cultural and institutional context in which it was made and circulated.