Portret van Johann Moritz Hoffmann - Georg Lichtensteger

A formal 1727 engraving by Georg Lichtensteger depicting the physician Johann Moritz Hoffmann, rendered with precise line work and classical Baroque composition.

This engraving by Georg Lichtensteger depicts Johann Moritz Hoffmann, a notable physician and academic of the early eighteenth century. The portrait follows the conventions of formal European portraiture from the period, presenting the subject within an oval frame set upon a stone plinth. Hoffmann is shown wearing a voluminous periwig, a hallmark of aristocratic and professional status in the 1720s. His expression is composed, reflecting the gravity expected of a man holding the titles listed in the Latin inscription below the portrait.

Lichtensteger employs precise line work to render the textures of the subject's clothing and the heavy drapery that hangs behind the oval frame. The use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a sense of volume and depth, typical of the technical mastery found in German printmaking during the Baroque era. The inclusion of a coat of arms on the plinth serves to identify the subject's lineage and social standing, while the architectural elements, such as the column to the left, provide a sense of stability and formal order to the composition.

Johann Moritz Hoffmann (1653–1727) was a professor of medicine and anatomy at the University of Altdorf. This print, dated 1727, likely served as a commemorative image following his death. The Latin text details his roles as a physician and his association with the Academia Naturae Curiosorum. As a piece of historical documentation, the print offers a clear view into the visual language of academic portraiture in the Holy Roman Empire. The balanced composition and the clear, legible lettering demonstrate the functional purpose of such engravings, which were often distributed among peers or included in scholarly publications to honour the subject's professional contributions.