Pierre Seguier
1633
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 27.5 x 19.2 cm (10 13/16 x 7 9/16 in.) sheet: 34.5 x 25.4 cm (13 9/16 x 10 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of John O'Brien
Accession Number
1991.164.60
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 17th-century portraiture with Michel Las's *Pierre Séguier* (1633), a engraving on laid paper now housed in the National Gallery Art. Lasne, a skilled Parisian engraver active during the of Louis XIII, captures the likeness of Pierre Ségu, who that very year was appointed Keeper of the Seals key legal and advisory role in the French monarchy. This intimate plate (27.5 x .2 cm) exemplifies the era's fascination with authoritative figures, rendering Séguier in formal attire that conveys power and intellect. Engravings like this were vital for disseminating images before p...
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...