Portret van Elias Holl op 47-jarige leeftijd - Lucas Kilian

A detailed 1619 engraving by Lucas Kilian depicting the architect Elias Holl, framed within an ornate seventeenth-century cartouche.

This engraving by Lucas Kilian depicts the architect Elias Holl at the age of forty-seven. Kilian, a skilled printmaker from Augsburg, captures the subject with precision, employing fine lines to define the textures of the ruff collar, the fabric of the doublet, and the facial features of the architect. Holl is shown holding a scroll that displays a building, referencing his professional identity as the city architect of Augsburg. The portrait is framed within an elaborate cartouche, a common decorative element in seventeenth-century printmaking, which features scrolling forms and a cherubic head at the apex. The Latin inscription below the portrait identifies the subject and the artist, while the date 1619 confirms the period of production.

The composition balances the realistic portrayal of the sitter with the ornamental frame. Kilian uses varying line weights to create depth, particularly in the shading of the cartouche, which gives the frame a three-dimensional quality. The subject gazes directly at the viewer, his expression composed and serious. This work reflects the technical capabilities of the period, where engraving was used to document figures of status and professional achievement. The inclusion of architectural drawings within the portrait serves to link the individual to his public works, a convention often seen in early modern portraiture to signify the sitter's contribution to civic life. The print remains a clear example of the portrait engraving tradition in Southern Germany during the early seventeenth century, demonstrating the high level of craftsmanship required to produce such detailed imagery on copper plates.