Portret van Gilbert d'Aissailly

About this artwork

Genummerd rechtsboven: 4.

Art Historical Context

Welcome to our virtual gallery, where we spotlight *Portret van Gilbert d'Aailly*, a delicate engraving by the French artist Laurent Cars from 1726. Cars (1699–1771), master engraver active in Paris, specialized in prints that captured the elegance of contemporary portraiture. This intimate portrait, measuring just 214 mm high by 153 mm wide, depicts Gilbert d'Aissail, likely a notable figure of the era—possibly a nobleman or scholar—whose likeness was deemed worthy of preservation through print. Engraving, Cars's chosen medium, involved incising fine lines into a metal plate with a burin, creating rich tonal contrasts ideal for detailed faces and ornate attire. The subtle numbering "4" in the upper right suggests this is the fourth plate in a series, a common practice in 18th-century printmaking to disseminate images of prominent individuals affordably. Produced during the transition from Baroque grandeur to Rococo refinement, it reflects the period's fascination with personal legacy and aristocratic portraiture. This work highlights engraving's cultural role: bridging elite painting with public access, allowing admirers across Europe to own a piece of high-society glamour. A charming glimpse into 1720s France!

About the Artist

Laurent Cars · 1699–1771

Comment on works: Printmaker