Portret van Louis des Balbes de Berton de Crillon

About this artwork

blad: hoogte 275 mm x breedte 179 mm

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Portret van Louis des Bal de Berton de Crillon*, a striking lithographic portrait capturing the likeness of the legendary 16th-century French noble and soldier, known as "Le Brave Crillon Produced anonymously but printed by the widow Delpech (Naudet) 1818 and 1842, this modest yet evocative sheet measures 275 mm high by 179 mm wide. Crillon (1541–1615) earned fame for his valor under King Henri IV, embodying chivalric ideals that resonated long after his death. Lithography, the medium here, revolutionized printmaking in the early 19th century. Invented just two decades earlier, it allowed artists to draw directly on stone with greasy crayon, producing nuanced tones and fine details through chemical transfer—ideal for affordable portraits of historical heroes. This technique democratized access to cultural icons, fueling Romantic-era fascination with the past amid Napoleonic upheavals and national pride. As a product of Delpech's Parisian workshop, renowned for historical reproductions, this work reflects 19th-century nostalgia for Renaissance valor. Though anonymous, its precise lines and subtle shading honor Crillon's enduring legacy, inviting us to ponder timeless bravery in a changing world.