Artwork
Pierre Louis Moreau de Maupertuis
Pierre Louis Moreau de Maupertuis is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jean Daullé. It dates from 1741 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jean Daullé’s 1741 engraving presents the French mathematician and astronomer Pierre Louis Moreau de Maupertuis seated on a ledge. He is attired in elaborate robes and a curled wig, with a globe positioned at his feet, while his right hand extends in a pointing gesture. A dark curtain forms the backdrop, and a diminutive figure lies on the ground beneath the scholar.
Subject & Meaning
The composition emphasizes Maupertuis’s intellectual stature, juxtaposing his poised gesture with the terrestrial globe to suggest his contributions to geography and the measurement of the Earth’s shape. The small figure on the floor may symbolize the humble foundations upon which scientific inquiry rests, reinforcing the Enlightenment theme of reason guiding humanity.
Technique & Style
Daullé employed fine, cross‑hatched lines and subtle tonal shading to render the figure’s facial features and drapery with a convincing three‑dimensionality. The chiaroscuro effect and meticulous detail align with late Baroque printmaking, where the interplay of light and shadow heightened drama and conveyed a sense of presence within the flat medium of engraving.
History & Provenance
Created in 1741, the print was likely issued as part of a series of portraits celebrating prominent French scholars of the era. It has circulated among collections of scientific and artistic prints, and examples are documented in several European museum holdings, reflecting its role as both a biographical record and a work of decorative print art.
Context
The engraving emerged during a period when portraiture of intellectual figures served to disseminate Enlightenment ideals. Maupertuis, known for his expedition to Lapland to determine Earth’s meridian, was a fitting subject for a print that combined scientific symbolism with the aristocratic visual language of the French court.
Artist & collection
