Artwork
Chancellor Michel Le Tellier
Chancellor Michel Le Tellier is an ink print by the Baroque artist Robert Nanteuil. It dates from 1653 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This mid‑17th‑century engraving portrays Michel Le Tellier, who served as Chancellor of France.
About this work
Overview
This mid‑17th‑century engraving portrays Michel Le Tellier, who served as Chancellor of France. Executed by the court engraver Robert Nanteuil in 1653, the print presents the statesman in a formal, frontal pose, his gaze directed toward the viewer.
Subject & Meaning
Le Tellier is shown wearing the ceremonial robes of his office, complete with a white‑collared shirt and a distinctive star‑shaped medal on his left shoulder, symbols of his rank and royal favor. The sober expression and direct stare convey the authority and gravitas associated with his political role.
Technique & Style
Nanteuil’s engraving demonstrates meticulous line work, with fine hatching that renders the texture of the dark robe, the sheen of the medal, and the wavy hair and moustache. The solid black background isolates the figure, emphasizing the clarity of the portrait’s contours in line with French court portrait conventions of the period.
History & Provenance
Created for the royal court, the print was likely circulated among officials and collectors as a visual record of Le Tellier’s prominence. Nanteuil, a leading portrait engraver of Louis XIV’s reign, produced a series of such images that documented the era’s political elite.
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.
