Who painted Portrait of Petrus Burmannus, Professor of Humanities?

Portrait of Petrus Burmannus, Professor of Humanities was painted by Jacob, Houbraken in 1750.

Where can I see Portrait of Petrus Burmannus, Professor of Humanities?

Portrait of Petrus Burmannus, Professor of Humanities is held by Leiden University Libraries.

What movement is Portrait of Petrus Burmannus, Professor of Humanities?

Portrait of Petrus Burmannus, Professor of Humanities is associated with Dutch Golden Age.

Artwork

Portrait of Petrus Burmannus, Professor of Humanities

Jacob, Houbraken , 1750

Portrait of Petrus Burmannus, Professor of Humanities is an unspecified painting by the Dutch Golden Age artist Jacob, Houbraken. It dates from 1750 and is held in the collection of the Leiden University Libraries. The portrait depicts Petrus Burmannus, a professor of humanities, seated amid books and papers.

About this work

The man in the painting is Petrus Burmannus, a professor of humanities, and the Latin inscription under the image was written by J.

This painting shows a man sitting with books and papers.
He's dressed in old-fashioned clothes.
The man in the painting is Petrus Burmannus, a professor of humanities, and the Latin inscription under the image was written by J. de Wit.

The painting is interesting because it was made after another work by H. van der My from 1727.
This tells us that the artist, Jacob Houbraken, was inspired by earlier works.

You can learn more about the artist who created this style by looking at the work of Houbraken, Jacob, (1698-1780).

Overview

The portrait depicts Petrus Burmannus, a professor of humanities, seated amid books and papers. He is attired in period costume that reflects early eighteenth‑century academic dress. Beneath the image a Latin inscription, authored by J. de Wit, identifies the sitter and provides contextual information.

Subject & Meaning

Burmannus is presented as a scholarly figure, his surroundings of manuscripts and volumes emphasizing his intellectual vocation. The composition underscores the esteem afforded to educators in the era, portraying the professor not merely as an individual but as a symbol of learned authority within the humanities.

Technique & Style

Executed by Jacob Houbraken (1698–1780), the work follows the conventions of Dutch portraiture, employing a restrained palette and precise rendering of fabric and paper. Houbraken’s handling of light accentuates the textures of the sitter’s clothing and the delicate surfaces of the books, creating a quiet, contemplative atmosphere.

History & Provenance

The portrait is a later version of an earlier painting by H. van der My dated 1727. Houbraken’s rendition, therefore, functions as a copy or reinterpretation, indicating the continued relevance of the original composition. The Latin caption added by J. de Wit further anchors the work within its historical documentation.

Context

Created in the early eighteenth century, the image reflects the academic culture of the Dutch Republic, where scholars often commissioned portraits to affirm their status. Houbraken, known for his engravings and portraiture, frequently produced works after existing paintings, illustrating the period’s practice of reproducing esteemed images for broader circulation.