Portrait of Franz Xaver von Feller - Paul Jacob Laminit

A formal portrait engraving of the Jesuit scholar Franz Xaver von Feller by the German artist Paul Jacob Laminit.

This engraving by Paul Jacob Laminit depicts the Jesuit scholar and writer Franz Xaver von Feller. Laminit, a German engraver active in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, utilised the stipple and line engraving techniques common to the period to capture the likeness of his subject. The portrait is presented within an oval frame, a standard convention for formal portraiture of the era, which directs the viewer's focus to the sitter's facial features and expression.

The subject, Franz Xaver von Feller (1735-1802), is shown in a three-quarter view, wearing the attire of a gentleman of his time, including a high-collared coat and a cravat. The artist employs fine cross-hatching and dot work to create subtle gradations of light and shadow across the face and clothing, providing a sense of volume and texture. The lower portion of the print features the name of the sitter in elegant, flowing script, a characteristic element of historical portrait prints intended for inclusion in books or private collections.

Laminit's work reflects the technical precision required for copperplate engraving during this period. The composition is balanced and restrained, adhering to the aesthetic principles of the time. The paper shows signs of age, including minor foxing, which is typical for prints of this provenance. This piece offers a glimpse into the visual documentation of intellectual figures in the late Enlightenment and early nineteenth century. It is a study in the formal portraiture style that defined the era, focusing on clarity, anatomical accuracy, and the dignified representation of the individual.