Christophe de Thou, premier president au Parlement

Art Historical Context

This etching by Jean Morin portrays Christophe de Thou, who served as premier président of the Parlement de Paris during the sixteenth century. As a leading jurist and statesman, de Thou played a key role in French legal and political life, and his image reflects the era’s interest in commemorating influential figures through reproducible prints. Morin, active in seventeenth-century France, specialized in portrait etchings that captured the dignity and character of his sitters with remarkable sensitivity. Executed in etching, the medium allowed for fine lines and tonal gradations that brought a lifelike quality to printed portraits. This technique helped disseminate images of notable individuals beyond court circles, making such works both artistic achievements and valuable historical documents. The Metropolitan Museum’s impression, acquired in 1928 through the Harris Brisbane Dick Fund, preserves the refined detail of Morin’s hand in a format well suited for study and appreciation today.

About the Artist

Jean Morin · 1605–1650

Jean Morin (c. 1605–1650) was one of the most accomplished French engravers of the seventeenth century, a master of the portrait print whose work stands among the finest examples of French graphic art in its era. Little is known about his early life or training, though his technique suggests exposure to both French and Flemish engraving traditions, the latter being the dominant force in European p...