Catalogue information
Knee piece to the left of Herman Alexander Roëll (1653-1718) sitting at a table, with a writing feather in his hand and an open notebook. An inkwell on the table in front of him. A family crest on the side of the table. In the background, behind a curtain, two bookcases. Below the portrait are name and details in nine lines in Latin. Röell was a German-Dutch Protestant theologian. He strove to approach religion from reason. In 1679 he became court chaplain to Princess Elisabeth of the Palatinate. After her death he was called upon by the princess-douarière Albertine Agnes in Leeuwarden. In 1686 he became professor of theology and philosophy in Franeker and in 1704 in Utrecht, where he taught until his death. He was a follower of René Descartes and questioned ecclesiastical dogmas that he considered to be contrary to reason. Copper engraving and etching by Jacob Houbraken (1698-1780), after a drawing by Jan Wandelaar (1690-1759). Made around 1740. Signed in print. Source: Rijksmuseum, 2015.
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