Charles de la Fosse - Gaspard Duchange

A 1707 engraving by Gaspard Duchange depicting the painter Charles de la Fosse, created as the artist's reception piece for the Académie Royale.

This engraving by Gaspard Duchange depicts the French painter Charles de la Fosse. The work was produced in 1707 as the artist's reception piece for the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture. Duchange based his composition on a portrait painting by Hyacinthe Rigaud, a contemporary master of the genre. The portrait follows the conventions of the period, presenting the subject within a trompe-l'œil stone oval frame. De la Fosse is shown in a three-quarter view, wearing a voluminous periwig and a draped cloak. The inclusion of a palette and brushes resting on the stone ledge below the oval serves as a clear indicator of his profession. The precision of the burin work allows for a distinct rendering of textures, from the soft curls of the wig to the heavy folds of the fabric. As a reception piece, this print demonstrates the technical proficiency required for admission to the Academy. Duchange utilised a system of cross-hatching and varied line weights to suggest volume and light. The inscription at the base identifies the sitter as the Peintre ordinaire du Roy, noting his roles as a former director and rector of the Academy. This document provides a record of the professional hierarchy within the French art establishment during the reign of Louis XIV. The print remains a useful reference for the appearance of de la Fosse and the collaborative nature of portraiture between painters and printmakers in the eighteenth century.