Artwork
Hernig, Georg
Hernig, Georg is an unspecified painting by Rudolf (czynny we Wrocławiu 1933-1947), fot. Jagusch. It dates from 1945 and is held in the collection of the Library of the Wroclaw University. The image is a portrait of Georg Hernig, who served as starost of the Duchy of Wrocław from 1547 until his death in early February 1552.
About this work
You can learn more about this style of portrait by looking at the work of artist: Jagusch, Rudolf (czynny we Wrocławiu 1933-1947), fot.
This painting shows a man in a vertical oval frame with a coat of arms.
He's wearing old-fashioned clothes and has a serious expression.
The man is Georg Hernig, a historical figure from the 16th century.
The painting has some interesting details, like the inscription at the top that says when he was in charge.
It also mentions when he died, which is a pretty specific fact to include in a portrait.
You can learn more about this style of portrait by looking at the work of artist: Jagusch, Rudolf (czynny we Wrocławiu 1933-1947), fot.
Overview
The image is a portrait of Georg Hernig, who served as starost of the Duchy of Wrocław from 1547 until his death in early February 1552. Rendered as a bust within a vertical oval frame, the composition includes his coat of arms in the lower left and several identifying inscriptions. The work measures 21.4 by 16.8 centimeters and is a paper reproduction of an earlier oil painting.
Subject & Meaning
Georg Hernig appears in formal 16th‑century attire, his expression solemn and dignified, reflecting his administrative role. The coat of arms and the Latin‑German inscription at the top record his tenure and the date of his death (6 February 1552), underscoring the portrait’s function as a commemorative record of his office and lineage.
Technique & Style
The portrait is a mid‑17th‑century oil painting reproduced as a paper print. The original employed a vertical oval format, a common device for elite portraiture, focusing on the sitter’s head and shoulders. The reproduction preserves the subtle modeling of flesh and the muted palette typical of the period, while the printed medium adds a slightly flattened texture.
History & Provenance
The paper copy originates from a common negative (inventory photo 7283) and bears a back seal identifying Rudolf Jagusch of Breslau as the photographer. It is part of the National Museum in Wrocław’s Document Department collection, where it is catalogued among glass negatives and related reproductions of historic portraits.
Context
Hernig’s tenure as starost coincided with a turbulent phase in Silesian history, when local nobles administered ducal lands on behalf of the Bohemian Crown. Portraits such as this served both as personal memorials and as visual affirmations of authority within the duchy’s bureaucratic hierarchy.
Artist & collection
Artist
Rudolf (czynny we Wrocławiu 1933-1947), fot. Jagusch
Rudolf Jagusch worked in Wrocław between 1933 and 1947. He made photographs of city scenes and portraits during those years. His surviving prints show shopfronts, street corners, and local figures in black-and-white.…
