Artwork
Cardinal Dubois
Cardinal Dubois is a print by the Baroque artist Pierre-Imbert Drevet. It dates from 1724 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
You can learn more about portraits like this one by looking at the work of artist Pierre-Imbert Drevet (French, 1697–1739).
You see a man holding a letter in this painting.
He's dressed in fancy clothes and looks important.
The letter is addressed to the king, which tells us something about the man's role.
The man in the painting is Cardinal Dubois, a powerful person in France. He played a big part in the country's government. This painting shows him at a significant moment, right after a new king took the throne.
You can learn more about portraits like this one by looking at the work of artist Pierre-Imbert Drevet (French, 1697–1739).
Overview
The print depicts Cardinal Guillaume Dubois, a leading political figure in early‑18th‑century France, holding a missive addressed to the king. The image is a reproduction of a larger painted work that celebrated the accession of Louis XV in 1723, the year of Dubois’s death.
Subject & Meaning
Dubois is presented in sumptuous attire, emphasizing his high rank within the French court. The letter he bears, marked "Au Roy," underscores his role as a key intermediary between the newly crowned monarch and the state’s governing bodies.
Technique & Style
Executed as an engraving, the work translates the original painting’s composition into line and tone, preserving the detailed rendering of fabric and the solemn expression of the cardinal. The print’s crisp incisions convey the formal gravity typical of official portraiture of the period.
History & Provenance
The engraving was produced shortly after Louis XV’s coronation, circulating as a visual record of the event. It reflects the practice of reproducing state portraits for wider distribution among the aristocracy and bureaucratic circles.
Context
Cardinal Dubois (1656–1723) served as chief minister and wielded considerable influence over French foreign and domestic policy. His depiction at the moment of the new king’s rise highlights the continuity of governance during a dynastic transition.
Artist & collection
Artist
The Drevet Family were leading portrait engravers of France for over a hundred years. Their fame began with Pierre, and was sustained by his son, Pierre-Imbert, and by his nephew, Claude.
