François La Rochefoucauld

Art Historical Context

This delicate engraving, titled *François La Rochefoucauld captures the likeness of the French nobleman (15511600) through the skilled hand of Michel Lasne, prominent engraver of the late Renaissance period. Produced between the late 16th and early 17th centuries, the print exemplifies the era's fascination with portraiture, where influential figures like La Rochefoucauld—a statesman and courtier—were immortalized to convey status and legacy. Its diminutive size, just 4.3 x 4.5 cm, reflects the intimate scale of period prints, often collected in albums or bound into books for private study. Crafted as an engraving on laid paper (a handmade sheet with visible chain lines, now laid down for preservation), the work highlights Lasne's mastery of the burin tool, which allowed for precise lines and rich tonal contrasts in metal plates. Engravings like this were revolutionary for their reproducibility, democratizing access to elite portraits beyond oil paintings reserved for the wealthy. Trimmed within the plate mark, it hints at the practical handling of such ephemera in historical collections. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's print department (CG-E) through the generous gift of John O'Brien, this tiny gem offers a window into the cultural role of prints in early modern Europe, blending artistry with the dissemination of power and identity.

About the Artist

Michel Lasne · 1590–1667

Michel Lasne (ca. 1590–1667) was a French engraver, draughtsman, and collector who became one of the most prolific printmakers of the French Baroque period. Born in Caen around 1590, Lasne was the son of a goldsmith, which provided him with early exposure to metalworking techniques essential for engraving. His career spanned the reigns of Louis XIII and the early years of Louis XIV, during which h...