Artwork
Marquis de la Vrilliere
Marquis de la Vrilliere is an ink print by the Baroque artist Pierre Drevet. It dates from 1701 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Pierre Drevet’s 1701 engraving portrays the Marquis de la Vrilliere, a member of the French nobility, in a formal, upright pose. Executed in the fine line work typical of early‑18th‑century French portrait prints, the image emphasizes the sitter’s status through elaborate dress and a composed expression, offering a clear visual record of aristocratic attire of the period.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures the Marquis in his ceremonial garments, underscoring his rank and the social conventions of the French court. The solemn facial expression and dignified bearing convey the expectations of decorum and authority associated with high‑born individuals, while the detailed rendering of clothing elements signals wealth and lineage.
Technique & Style
Drevet employed a dense network of engraved lines to model flesh, fabric and background, creating subtle gradations of tone without the use of color. This line‑based approach, characteristic of French portrait engraving, allowed for precise depiction of textures such as lace, silk and metal ornaments, giving the print a tactile quality despite its flat medium.
History & Provenance
The work belongs to a long family tradition of French portrait engraving, a craft in which Drevet was a leading figure. His practice was later continued by his son and nephew, ensuring the technique’s transmission across generations. The print was likely produced for circulation among the aristocracy, serving both as a personal likeness and as a means of disseminating the Marquis’s image.
Context
Created at the turn of the 18th century, the engraving reflects the broader French interest in documenting elite identities through reproducible media. Engravings like this were commonly used to accompany printed biographies, diplomatic correspondence, or as collectible items, reinforcing the visual culture of the Ancien Régime’s hierarchical society.
Artist & collection
Artist
The Drevet Family were leading portrait engravers of France for over a hundred years. Their fame began with Pierre, and was sustained by his son, Pierre-Imbert, and by his nephew, Claude.
