Artwork
Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu
Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Michel Lasne. It dates from 1628 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Michel Lasne’s 1628 engraving presents Armand Jean du Plessis, better known as Cardinal Richelieu, in a formal portrait. Executed on laid paper, the print shows the cardinal in his clerical robes, a white ruff, and a prominent jeweled cross, set against a dark, unadorned background. The composition emphasizes his solemn demeanor and the authority he wielded in early‑seventeenth‑century France.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is Richelieu, the chief minister of King Louis XIII, whose political and religious influence shaped French policy during the period. By depicting him in full ecclesiastical dress, the image underscores his dual role as a high‑ranking churchman and a statesman, reflecting the intertwining of spiritual and secular power that defined his career.
Technique & Style
Lasne employed fine cross‑hatching to render the textures of fabric, hair, and the intricate details of the cardinal’s insignia. The engraving’s precise line work and careful modulation of light create a sense of three‑dimensionality, characteristic of early Baroque portraiture while retaining the meticulous realism associated with Renaissance portrait prints.
History & Provenance
Born in Caen around 1590, Lasne trained in Antwerp under Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck before establishing a workshop in Paris by 1621. Appointed official engraver to Louis XIII in 1633, he produced this portrait as part of his duties for the royal court, contributing to the visual propaganda surrounding Richelieu’s public image.
Artist & collection
Artist
Michel Lasne (Caen, ca. 1590–4 December 1667, Paris), was a French engraver, draughtsman and collector. Lasne was born in Caen and was the son of a goldsmith. He was a member of the Guild of Saint Luke in Antwerp for…
