Nicolas Ysambert

Art Historical Context

Michel Lasne's *Nicolas Ysambert*, an engraving on laid paper created in or after 164, offers a striking 17th-century portrait that captures the dignified presence of its namesake subject. Measuring 29.2 x 18.8 cm on the, this intimate print exemplifies the precision of French engraving during the Baroque era. Laid paper, with its characteristic chain lines from the manufacturing process, was a favored medium for high-quality prints, allowing ink to hold finely in the incised lines of the copper plate. Lasne (c. 1590–1667), a skilled Parisian engraver, specialized in portraits that preserved the likenesses of scholars, clergy, and notables, often reproducing painted originals. Such engravings were vital cultural tools in early modern Europe, enabling the wide dissemination of images beyond elite circles through affordable multiples. This work reflects the era's emphasis on detailed line work to convey texture, expression, and status, bridging painting and printmaking traditions. Today, housed in the National Gallery of Art's print collection (gift of John O'Brien), *Nicolas Ysambert* invites us to ponder the sitter's world—a time when portraits immortalized personal legacies amid France's artistic flourishing under Louis XIII and early Louis XIV.

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...