Artwork
Henri II d'Orléans, Duc de Longueville
Henri II d'Orléans, Duc de Longueville is an ink print by the Baroque artist Robert Nanteuil. It dates from 1655 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. This 1655 copper engraving portrays Henri II d’Orléans, Duke of Longueville, a French nobleman of the mid‑seventeenth century.
About this work
Overview
This 1655 copper engraving portrays Henri II d’Orléans, Duke of Longueville, a French nobleman of the mid‑seventeenth century. Executed by the court engraver Robert Nanteuil, the image presents the duke in a dark, unadorned background, emphasizing his facial features, curly hair, moustache, and richly detailed attire, including a dark jacket with prominent buttons and a crisp white collar.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait emphasizes the duke’s status and virtues, reinforced by an accompanying French verse that lauds his generosity, humanity, bravery, and wisdom. The text, placed beneath the image, functions as a poetic epitaph, linking the sitter’s personal qualities to the broader ideals of noble conduct celebrated in the age of Louis XIV.
Technique & Style
Nanteuil employed fine line engraving on copper, a method that allowed for meticulous rendering of texture and fabric. The work reflects the French Baroque aesthetic, characterized by a restrained yet elegant realism, careful modeling of light on the duke’s face, and precise depiction of sartorial details that convey rank without excessive ornamentation.
History & Provenance
Created while Nanteuil served as the official portrait engraver to the Sun King, the print was likely intended for circulation among the aristocracy and court circles. It survives in several museum collections, indicating its role as a disseminated image of a prominent noble family during the reign of Louis XIV.
Context
The engraving belongs to a period when portrait prints functioned as both personal commemoration and political propaganda. By presenting the duke with dignified attire and a laudatory inscription, the image aligns with the broader cultural project of reinforcing hierarchical order and the virtues of the French nobility under absolutist rule.
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.
