Artwork
Vincent Voiture
Vincent Voiture is an ink print by the Baroque artist William Faithorne. It dates from 1670 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
This 1670 engraving by the English printmaker William Faithorne presents a portrait of the French poet and courtier Vincent Voiture. Rendered in stark black and white, the image focuses tightly on the sitter’s face, set against an unadorned background that eliminates any distraction from his expression and attire.
Subject & Meaning
Voiture is depicted with a composed, serious demeanor, his gaze directed outward. He wears a dark coat trimmed with a white lace collar and a modest bow tie, while his long, curled hair frames a neatly trimmed beard and mustache, suggesting the refined yet modest fashion of a 17th‑century literary figure.
Technique & Style
Faithorne employed the traditional intaglio method, incising the image onto a copper plate before inking and pressing it onto paper. The engraving is marked by crisp, precise lines, especially evident in the intricate rendering of the lace collar and the texture of the hair, demonstrating the artist’s command of fine detail and tonal contrast.
History & Provenance
Created in 1670, the print reflects Faithorne’s active period in London, where he produced portraits of notable European personalities. While the original plate’s whereabouts are unknown, surviving impressions have been held in several European print collections, indicating the work’s circulation among connoisseurs of literary portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
William Faithorne (1616–1691) was a British artist, born in Greater London.
