Artwork
Chancellor Michel Le Tellier
Chancellor Michel Le Tellier 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
Robert Nanteuil's 1659 engraving Chancellor Michel Le Tellier is a portrait print exemplifying the artist's skill as engraver, draughtsman, and pastellist to Louis XIV.
Subject & Meaning
The engraving depicts Chancellor Michel Le Tellier in formal attire, conveying his likeness and status through precise rendering of his facial features and official dress.
Technique & Style
Nanteuil employed controlled burin technique to achieve a detailed portrait, combining precise linework with observed facial features characteristic of mid-17th-century French portraiture.
Context
The work is part of a tradition where engravers used their skill to capture the likenesses of nobility, as evidenced by the decorative frame, coat of arms, and formal attire depicted in the image.
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.
