Portret van Charles II van Mantua

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

This elegant engraving, *Portret van Charles II Mantua*, captures the likeness of Charles II Gonzaga Duke of Mantua andferrat, who ruled from 1637 to 1665 amid the turbulent politics of 17th-century Europe. by French engraver Jean Frosne 1652 and 1676, the portrait reflects the era's fascination with noble patronage and dynastic imagery. At 206mm by 132mm, its compact size made it ideal for collectors' cabinets, disseminating the duke's regal presence through affordable prints. Frosne's mastery of engraving—a technique using a burin to incise fine lines into a metal plate—allowed for intricate details in facial features, armor, and drapery, hallmarks of Baroque portraiture. Engravings like this were vital in the print revolution, enabling widespread dissemination of elite imagery beyond oil paintings, influencing fashion, diplomacy, and cultural exchange across courts. Bearing the collector's mark Lugt 2228 (verso), this piece traces its provenance to a distinguished 18th- or 19th-century collector, underscoring its enduring value in connoisseur circles. A window into Gonzaga legacy and printmaking artistry, it invites us to ponder the power of the reproduced portrait in shaping historical memory.

About the Artist

Jean Frosne · 1630–1700

Jean Frosne (circa 1614–after 1682) was a French engraver whose career spanned much of the 17th century, producing portraits, landscapes, and ornamental prints during the reigns of Louis XIII and Louis XIV. Born around 1614 (originally named Jean Froonens, son of a Flemish tapestry maker from the Gobelins), Frosne emerged from humble origins to become an accomplished engraver whose works documente...