Jacques Le Coigneux, Marquis de Belabre - Robert Nanteuil

A formal seventeenth-century engraving by Robert Nanteuil, depicting the French official Jacques Le Coigneux with precise line work and classical composition.

This engraving by Robert Nanteuil depicts Jacques Le Coigneux, Marquis de Belabre, in a formal portrait format characteristic of the mid-seventeenth century. Nanteuil, a master of the burin, achieved a high degree of technical precision in this work, capturing the textures of the subject's fur-lined robes and the subtle modelling of his facial features. The portrait is presented within an oval frame, resting upon a stone-effect plinth that bears an inscription identifying the sitter as the Grand President of the Parlement.

Nanteuil was the official engraver to Louis XIV and produced numerous portraits of the French aristocracy and clergy. His approach to portraiture involved a systematic use of line to define form and light, moving away from the more painterly styles of his contemporaries. The composition follows the conventions of the period, placing the subject in a dignified, three-quarter view. The careful hatching and cross-hatching techniques allow for a range of tones, from the deep shadows of the background to the bright highlights on the fur collar. This print reflects the formal rigour of the French Baroque, where the status of the individual is communicated through precise attire and a composed, steady gaze. The work is based on a painting by Henri Beaubrun, as noted in the lower inscription, demonstrating the common practice of translating painted portraits into widely distributed engravings during this era.