Artwork
Leonor Goyon de Matignon
Leonor Goyon de Matignon is an ink print by the Baroque artist Robert Nanteuil. It dates from 1657 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1657, this copperplate engraving presents Leonor Goyon de Matignon in a formal portrait. Executed by the French court engraver Robert Nanteuil, the image is rendered entirely in black and white, relying on line work to convey depth, texture, and the sitter’s dignified bearing.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait shows a gentleman with a composed expression, curly hair, and a dark ruff collar. A decorative chain encircles his neck, likely indicating rank or affiliation, while a shield bearing two lions and ornate lettering rests beneath his chin, alluding to heraldic identity and social status.
Technique & Style
Nanteuil employed fine, hand‑drawn lines to model light and shadow, a hallmark of 17th‑century engraving. The technique allows subtle gradations of tone without pigment, producing a detailed, textural surface that captures the fabric of clothing, hair, and ornamental elements through cross‑hatching and stippling.
History & Provenance
Robert Nanteuil, renowned for his portrait engravings, served the court of Louis XIV and was celebrated for his ability to translate painted likenesses into prints. This work, dated 1657, reflects his mature period and would have circulated among aristocratic collectors, preserving the image of Leonor Goyon de Matignon beyond the original painting.
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.
Philibert-Emmanuel de Beaumanoir Lavardin
Philibert-Emmanuel de Beaumanoir Lavardin
Henri II, Duc de Nemours
Armand de Bourbon-Conti
Gilles Blondeau
Dominique de Ligny
Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu
Armand Jean du Plessis, Cardinal Richelieu
François Servien, Bishop of Bayeux
Cardinal Antonio Barberini