Artwork
Pompone II de Bellievre
Pompone II de Bellievre 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. The print is a black‑and‑white portrait of a gentleman wearing a thick fur collar, rendered in a three‑quarter view.
About this work
Overview
The print is a black‑and‑white portrait of a gentleman wearing a thick fur collar, rendered in a three‑quarter view. The figure’s long, curly hair and neatly trimmed beard and moustache are set against a plain oval backdrop that includes faint surrounding text. A small coat of arms appears at the lower edge, indicating the sitter’s status.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is identified as Pompone II de Bellievre, a member of the French aristocracy. The formal pose and luxurious fur garment convey his rank and the decorum expected of a courtly portrait in the mid‑seventeenth century, while the inclusion of his heraldic device reinforces his noble lineage.
Technique & Style
Engraved by Robert Nanteuil, the image demonstrates the artist’s precise line work, achieved by incising metal plates with a burin. Fine hatching creates the texture of the fur and the subtle modeling of facial features, reflecting the meticulous realism characteristic of French portrait engravings of the period.
History & Provenance
Created in 1657, the print forms part of Nanteuil’s series of official portraits commissioned by the court of Louis XIV. Nanteuil, originally trained in drawing and pastel before turning to engraving, supplied the royal administration with likenesses of prominent figures, and this work would have circulated among the elite as a record of Bellievre’s appearance.
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.
