Portrait of Johann Michael Fehr - Johann Alexander Böner

A detailed 1683 engraving by Johann Alexander Böner depicting the physician Johann Michael Fehr, presented in a formal oval frame with Latin inscriptions.

This engraving by Johann Alexander Böner depicts the physician Johann Michael Fehr. Produced in 1683, the work follows the conventions of seventeenth-century academic portraiture. The subject is presented within an oval frame, a common device for formal portrait prints of the period. Fehr is shown in three-quarter view, wearing the formal attire of a scholar, complete with a wide, flat collar and long, flowing hair. He holds a single flower, likely a dandelion, which serves as a symbolic reference to his botanical interests and medical practice.

Böner, a Nuremberg-based engraver, demonstrates technical precision in his handling of the burin. The cross-hatching and line work create a sense of volume in the subject's clothing and facial features. The oval frame is surrounded by an inscription detailing the subject's titles and academic affiliations, while a plinth at the base contains a Latin verse. This inclusion of text is typical of the era, where the portrait functioned as both a record of the individual and a statement of their professional standing within the scientific community.

The composition is balanced and formal. The lighting is directed to draw attention to the face and the hand holding the flower, creating a clear hierarchy of visual information. The background within the oval is dark, which pushes the figure forward and emphasises the texture of the clothing. As a historical document, the print provides insight into the visual culture of the German medical establishment during the late seventeenth century. The work is a fine example of the portrait engraving tradition, where the artist combined technical skill with the requirements of formal documentation.