Who painted Georg Roggenbach?

Georg Roggenbach was painted by Hanns Lautensack in 1554.

Where can I see Georg Roggenbach?

Georg Roggenbach is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Georg Roggenbach?

Georg Roggenbach is associated with Renaissance.

Artwork

Georg Roggenbach

Hanns Lautensack , 1554

Georg Roggenbach is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Hanns Lautensack. It dates from 1554 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Georg Roggenbach is an etching executed in 1554 by the German printmaker Hanns Lautensack. The portrait presents a bearded figure in a wide-brimmed hat, holding a small spherical object, with a detailed cityscape and river rendered behind him. The work is signed with Lautensack’s characteristic monogram and includes an inscription noting the sitter’s age as thirty‑eight.

Subject & Meaning

The central figure is a middle‑aged man, identified by the inscription as being thirty‑eight at the time of the portrait. His pose—handing a round object and resting an arm on a ledge—suggests a personal or professional attribute, while the surrounding urban landscape may allude to his civic connections or status within the city.

Technique & Style

Lautensack employs fine, sharply cut lines typical of mid‑16th‑century etching, achieving precise textures in the fur collar, hat brim, and architectural details. The composition reflects Renaissance ideals of realism, with careful attention to proportion, facial features, and atmospheric perspective in the background.

History & Provenance

Born in Bamberg in 1524, Hanns Lautensack was the son of painter Paul Lautensack and spent much of his career in Nuremberg. Around 1556 he relocated to Vienna, possibly at the invitation of Emperor Ferdinand I, suggesting a network of patronage that may have facilitated the creation of works like Georg Roggenbach.

Context

The portrait emerges from a period when German artists were integrating Italian Renaissance principles into Northern printmaking. Lautensack’s etchings, including this piece, demonstrate the diffusion of precise line work and humanist portraiture across the Holy Roman Empire’s artistic centers.