Artwork
Dom Jean Gregoire Tarrisse
Dom Jean Gregoire Tarrisse is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jean Morin. It dates from 1648 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jean Morin’s 1648 engraving presents a portrait of Dom Jean‑Gregoire Tarrisse, a senior figure in the French religious community. Executed in black and white, the image shows an elderly man in a dark, high‑collared robe, his expression solemn, framed by a geometric border that emphasizes his status.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, identified by the inscription “R.P.D. Gregorius Tarrisse Superior General Cong. S. Maur.,” served as the superior general of the Congregation of Saint‑Maur, a reformist Benedictine order. The portrait functions as a visual record of his ecclesiastical authority and the solemn dignity associated with his office.
Technique & Style
Morin combines engraving with etching on a single copper plate, a method he helped refine in the mid‑17th century. Fine cross‑hatching creates nuanced shadows on the face and robe, while sharp line work defines the contours of the figure, reflecting contemporary conventions for formal portraiture.
History & Provenance
Printed in 1648, the work was both created and distributed by Morin, who operated as an artist‑publisher. Copies circulated among French religious institutions, serving as a means of disseminating the image of the order’s leader during a period of ecclesiastical reform.
Context
The engraving emerges from a French Baroque milieu in which portrait prints were used to affirm hierarchical structures within the church. Morin’s hybrid technique aligns with broader experimental trends in printmaking that sought greater tonal variation without sacrificing line precision.
Legacy
Morin’s integration of engraving and etching influenced subsequent French printmakers, who adopted similar approaches to achieve richer tonal effects. The portrait of Dom Tarrisse remains a representative example of how print media documented religious leadership in 17th‑century France.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean Morin (c.1595 or 1605 – 1650) was a French baroque painter, printmaker, painter, etcher, engraver and publisher.
