Portret van Jean de Gerson

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Portret van Jean deerson** *Étienne Desrochers,. 1726* *Engraving, 146 × 103 mmStep into the refined world of 18th portraiture with Étienne Desrochers' engraving of Jean de Gerson, the influential French theologian and Chancellor of the University of Paris1363–1429). Created around 1726, this work revives the likeness of a key figure from the late medieval era, known for his writings on church reform during the Western Schism. Desrochers, a masterful French engraver active in Paris, specialized in precise reproductive prints that captured the intellectual elite, making historical luminaries accessible to collectors and scholars. The engraving's modest dimensions—barely larger than a postcard—highlight its role in private cabinets of curiosity, where small-scale prints were prized for their portability and detail. Desrochers employed fine lines and tonal gradations typical of 18th-century engraving techniques, incising designs into a metal plate for inked impressions that convey depth and character in a single sheet. On the verso, a collector's mark stamped Lugt 2228 authenticates its provenance from the esteemed collection of Frits Lugt, the Dutch art historian whose catalogue raisonné remains a cornerstone for print studies. This piece bridges centuries, underscoring Gerson's enduring cultural legacy and the engraver's skill in preserving it for enlightened audiences. A gem for print enthusiasts!