Portret van Michel le Tellier

About this artwork

collector's mark: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

**Portrait of Michel le Tell** by Robert Nante (1677) is a masterful engraving that captures the stern visage of one of Louis XIV's key ministers. Measuring an impressive 527 × 437 mm, this large-scale print exemplifies Nanteuil's status as the preeminent French portrait engraver of the 17th century. in the Baroque era, Nante specialized in detailed engravings that blended technical precision with lifelike resemblance, often drawing directly from life sittings for the French court elite. Michel le Tellier, the subject, served as Secretary of State for War, playing a pivotal role in centralizing France's military under the Sun King's absolute monarchy. Created late in Nanteuil's career—just a year before his death—this portrait reflects the era's emphasis on authority and grandeur, with fine lines conveying Le Tellier's intellectual gravitas and resolve. Engravings like this were prized reproductions, making elite likenesses accessible to collectors across Europe. Bearing the collector's mark Lugt 2228, this work boasts notable provenance, underscoring its enduring value among connoisseurs. Nanteuil's technique—using burin strokes for subtle textures in fabric and flesh—elevates engraving from mere reproduction to high art, inviting us to ponder the faces behind France's golden age.

About the Artist

Robert Nanteuil · 1623–1678

Robert Nanteuil (1623-1678) was a French portrait engraver, draughtsman, and pastellist who became the preeminent portraitist to the court of Louis XIV. His technical mastery and royal patronage fundamentally transformed the status of engraving in France, elevating it from a mechanical craft to a recognized fine art. Nanteuil stands as the outstanding French portrait engraver of the seventeenth c...