Artwork
Cardinal Jules Mazarin
Cardinal Jules Mazarin is an ink print by the Baroque artist Robert Nanteuil. It dates from 1659 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Cardinal Jules Mazarin is a print portrait created by Robert Nanteuil in 1659. The work is an engraving, a technique that involves carving a design into a metal plate.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts Jules Mazarin, a prominent French statesman and cardinal. He is shown with a serious expression, wearing formal attire and holding a piece of paper, conveying an air of authority and contemplation.
Technique & Style
Nanteuil employed fine lines and shading to achieve a sense of depth, particularly in the subject's face and clothing. The use of cross-hatching creates nuanced shadows and texture, lending the engraving a three-dimensional quality.
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Nanteuil (French pronunciation: ; 1623 – 9 December 1678) was a French portrait artist: engraver, draughtsman and pastellist to the court of Louis XIV.
