Portrait of Cardinal Emmanuel-Théodore de la Tour-d'Auvergne, duc d'Abret (1644-1715)

About this artwork

Research in Progress

Art Historical Context

This print portrait, created by French engraver Antoine Masson in 1665, depicts Emmanuel-Théodore de la-d'Auvergne at just twenty-one years old, years before he rose to prominence as a cardinal in the Catholic Church. Born into a noble French family, the subject would later play a role in ecclesiastical affairs during the reign of Louis XIV. Masson, active in the seventeenth century, specialized in capturing the likenesses of notable figures, and this work reflects the era’s interest in commemorating influential individuals through reproducible images. As a print in the Smithsonian American Art Museum’s collection, the piece belongs to a tradition that allowed portraits to reach broader audiences beyond the original painting or drawing. Its presence in the museum today stems from a bequest by George Campbell Cooper, underscoring how such works preserve connections to European history within American institutions. Though research on the artwork continues, the portrait offers visitors a window into the cultural practice of documenting young nobles destined for high office, blending personal representation with the social hierarchies of Baroque-era France.