CHARLES GILLOT DE LANGRES
ca. 1738
Medium
Bound print
Classification
Bound print
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-224-1
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Charles Gillot de Langres is a bound print created by the French artist Claude Gillot (1673–1722), dated around 1738. Produced posthumously after Gillot's death, this captures the portrait of Charles Gillot Langres, likely a member or notable figure from the artist's circle in early 18th-century France As a bound print, it represents a format of the time, where engravings or etchings were collected into albums or volumes, making art accessible beyond original paintings and allowing for widespread dissemination among collectors and scholars. Gillot, active during the transition from Baroque to Rococo styles, was renowned for his intricate designs and influence on later masters. The medium of the print highlights the era's innovative printmaking techniques, which preserved delicate details and enabled affordable reproductions of portraits. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum's collection—purchased by the Advisory Council—this piece bridges European artistic traditions with American institutional interests. With research ongoing, *Charles Gillot de Langres* invites visitors to ponder the personal stories behind its creation, offering a glimpse into 18th-century French portraiture and the enduring value of printed art. (178 words)