Charles Gabriel de Tubières de Caylus, Bishop of Auxerre - Georg Friedrich Schmidt

A detailed eighteenth-century portrait engraving of Charles Gabriel de Tubières de Caylus, Bishop of Auxerre, by the German master Georg Friedrich Schmidt.

This portrait by Georg Friedrich Schmidt depicts Charles Gabriel de Tubières de Caylus, the Bishop of Auxerre, in a formal seated pose. Schmidt, a German printmaker who spent significant time in Paris, was highly regarded for his technical precision in etching and engraving. This work demonstrates his ability to render varied textures, from the delicate lace of the bishop's vestments to the heavy folds of the drapery behind him.

The composition follows the conventions of eighteenth-century ecclesiastical portraiture. The subject sits at a desk, his hand resting upon a document, which suggests his role as an administrator and scholar. The presence of books and an inkwell reinforces this intellectual characterisation. Schmidt employs a sophisticated range of line work to define the contours of the bishop's face and the subtle play of light across his robes. The inclusion of a coat of arms at the base of the print provides a formal identification of the sitter, consistent with the heraldic traditions of the period.

Schmidt's mastery of the burin and needle allows for a clear distinction between the smooth surfaces of the architectural column and the soft, voluminous fabric of the curtain. The print captures the gravity expected of a high-ranking member of the clergy while maintaining the decorative sensibilities of the mid-eighteenth century. This piece is a fine example of the portrait engraving tradition that flourished in Europe during the Enlightenment, where the sitter's status was communicated through both their physical likeness and the symbolic objects surrounding them. The print remains a record of both the individual and the stylistic preferences of the era.