Portrait of Conrad Meyer - Rudolf Füssli

A detailed etching by Hans Rudolf Füssli portraying the artist Conrad Meyer within an ornate, scroll-adorned frame.

This etching by the Swiss artist Hans Rudolf Füssli depicts the artist and engraver Conrad Meyer. The composition is structured within an oval frame, a common device in portraiture of the period, which is set against a textured, organic background. The subject is shown in profile, wearing a hat and a garment with a fur-trimmed collar, reflecting the attire of a seventeenth-century artisan or scholar.

The frame itself is highly decorative, featuring scrollwork and vegetal motifs that curl around the central oval. Füssli employs precise line work to define the facial features of Meyer, capturing a sense of individual character through the subtle shading of the beard and the gaze. The surrounding foliage and rock-like textures provide a contrast to the smooth, controlled lines of the portrait, adding depth to the overall presentation.

Below the portrait, the name 'CONRAD MEYER' is inscribed directly onto the lower portion of the frame, serving as both identification and a design element. The etching demonstrates the technical skill required for this medium, with varied line weights used to create volume and shadow. The work is characteristic of the period's interest in commemorative portraiture, where the subject is presented with a degree of formality and classical structure. The print is a fine example of Swiss graphic art from the early eighteenth century, maintaining a balance between the representational portrait and the ornamental frame. It offers a glimpse into the professional circles of the time, documenting the appearance of a contemporary figure through the medium of printmaking.