Portret van François Duquesnoy

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 240

Art Historical Context

This engraving by Pieter van Bleeck, created in 1751, offers a posthumous portrait of the celebrated Flemish sculptor François Duquesnoy (1597–1643). Duquesnoy was a leading figure of the Roman Baroque, renowned for his elegant, classically inspired figures that blended antique ideals with a refined naturalism. Though he spent much of his career in Rome, his influence extended across Europe, making him a frequent subject for later reproductive prints that helped preserve and circulate his image long after his death. Van Bleeck, a Dutch engraver working in the eighteenth century, specialized in detailed portrait engravings often derived from earlier paintings or drawings. The medium itself—engraving—allowed for precise linework and wide distribution, transforming private likenesses into accessible works for scholars, collectors, and admirers. Measuring 354 by 245 millimeters, the print’s scale suits both study and display, reflecting the period’s growing interest in art-historical documentation. A small collector’s stamp on the reverse (Lugt 240) further enriches the sheet’s story, marking its passage through distinguished cabinets and underscoring the enduring value placed on such reproductive engravings as both artistic objects and historical records.

About the Artist

Pieter van Bleeck · 1700–1764

Probably born in the Hague. He was a painter of portraits and is particularly remembered for his portraits of actors in their roles. He was also an engraver and made engravings after works by Murillo, van Dyck, Rembrandt, Lely, and others. Comment on works: Portraits; theatrical scenes