Artwork
Louis XIII
Louis XIII is an ink print by the Baroque artist Pierre Daret de Cazeneuve. It dates from 1643 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The work is a 1643 print titled Louis XIII, executed by Pierre Daret de Cazeneuve. It presents the French monarch on horseback, clad in armor and holding a ceremonial baton in his right hand while supporting a helmet with his left. The composition is set against a modest landscape featuring scattered trees and a low horizon, rendered with precise line work.
Subject & Meaning
The image portrays Louis XIII as a martial ruler, emphasizing his authority through the regal baton and the protective armor. The inclusion of the horse reinforces traditional symbols of power and mobility, while the calm background suggests a controlled, orderly realm under his governance.
Technique & Style
Daret employed a combination of etching and engraving on laid paper, using acid to bite fine lines into a metal plate before hand‑burnishing details. This method allows intricate rendering of the armor’s texture and the folds of the clothing, giving the figure a sharply defined, almost sculptural appearance that aligns with the detailed approach of contemporary printmakers.
History & Provenance
The print represents a first state, meaning it is among the earliest impressions taken from the original plate before any reworking. Such early pulls are relatively scarce, offering insight into Daret’s initial conception of the image. Comparisons are often drawn with the work of Jacques Callot, whose own royal portraits share a similar meticulous etching technique.
Artist & collection
Louis XIV, King of France
Equestrian Portrait of Don Juan de Austria
Maurice, Prince of Orange on Horseback
Sir Thomas Fairfax, General of the Forces Raised by Parliament
Louis de Lorraine, Prince of Phalsbourg
Philip, Duc d'Orléans, Brother of Louis XIV
Charles II
Charles Emmanuel, Prince of Piedmont
Louis Sieur de Maine