Antique Print-PORTRAIT-UNKNOWN MAN-PROFILE-P. 339-340-Lavater-1781

Description: This attractive original old antique print / plate originates from: 'Over de Physiognomie.', by J.C. Lavater, Dutch edition 1780-1784, translated from German by Johan W. van Haar and published by Johannes Allart in Amsterdam. The original German edition had appeared also in 4 vols. under the title 'Physiognomische Fragmente zur Beförderung der Menschenkenntnis und Menschenliebe.', Leipzig, 1775-1778. Lavater advocated the phenomenon of physiognomy, by which one could judge character from facial characteristics. Lavater claimed for instance that heavy brows grown together meant criminality; while a sloping forehead might show that one was less smart. The work had an very large impact hroughout Europe and as Lavater's ideas spread, people naturally wanted to have more professional and accurate depictions of other people and themselves, making the art of the silhouette portrait very popular.

Artists and Engravers: Author: The Swiss theologian and mystic Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741-1801). The plates are engraved or etched by several artists, such as Heidegger from Zürich, Eckardt, Fresinger, I. Hegi and R. Brichet. Many plates in the text are engraved by the artists J.R. Schellenberg and J.H Lips. Johann Rudolph Schellenberg (1740-1806) was a Swiss painter, engraver and illustrator and entomologist. He is considered one of the greatest illustrators of his time and the most important Swiss engraver of the 18th Century. Johann Heinrich Lips (1758-1817) was a Swiss engraver.