Portret van Jacques Lenfant

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Portret van Jacques Lenfant** is a striking engraving by Dutch artist Jacob Gole, created between 1707 and1724. Gole, skilled reproductive engraver active in the Baroque period, specialized in translating paintings into detailed prints, capturing the elegance of 18th-century portraiture. The subject, Jacques Lenfant (1–1728), was a prominent French Huguenot pastor and historian who fled religious persecution in France after the 1685 revocation of the Edict of, finding refuge in the tolerant Netherlands. This portrait immortalizes him during a time of intellectual flourishing among Protestant exiles. Measuring 364 mm high by 264 mm wide, the work exemplifies engraving's precision: Gole likely used a burin to incise fine lines into a copper plate, producing rich tonal contrasts and intricate details in clothing, facial features, and background elements typical of period portraits. Engravings like this were vital for disseminating images of scholars and leaders, bridging elite art with broader audiences before photography. Bearing the collector's mark Lugt 2228—associated with the esteemed Printroom of the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam—this piece highlights its institutional legacy. It offers visitors a window into the cultural exchanges of early modern Europe, blending technical mastery with stories of resilience and scholarship.

About the Artist

Jacob Gole · 1660–1737

Jacob Gole (c. 1660-1737) was a Dutch engraver and mezzotinter renowned for his portrait engravings and his role in disseminating the mezzotint technique across Europe. Born in Paris to the celebrated Huguenot cabinetmaker Pierre Gole, he emerged as one of the most skilled printmakers of the late Dutch Golden Age. Gole's significance in art history lies primarily in his mastery of the mezzotint t...