Marshall Richelieu, Duke and Peer of France - Vincenzo Vangelisti

A formal eighteenth-century engraving by Vincenzo Vangelisti depicting the Duke of Richelieu in his official regalia as a Marshal of France.

This engraving by Vincenzo Vangelisti depicts Louis François Armand de Vignerot du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu, in his role as a Marshal of France. Vangelisti, an Italian engraver who spent much of his career in Paris, demonstrates a high level of technical precision in this work. The portrait captures the subject in full regalia, wearing the robes and insignia associated with his rank and status as a peer of France. His posture is formal, reflecting the aristocratic conventions of the eighteenth century.

The composition follows traditional portraiture standards of the era. The Duke stands beside a table, his hand resting near a plumed hat. The background features architectural elements, including a heavy curtain and a column, which provide a sense of depth and gravity to the scene. The floor is rendered with a geometric pattern, adding to the structured nature of the interior space. Vangelisti employs fine lines to delineate the textures of the velvet robes, the embroidery on the waistcoat, and the lace at the cuffs. The shading is managed through cross-hatching, which creates a subtle transition of tones across the figure and the surrounding environment.

This print serves as a record of the visual language used to communicate power and lineage in pre-revolutionary France. The inscription at the base identifies the subject and includes a dedication, a common practice for prints of this nature intended for circulation among the nobility. The work reflects the influence of the French school of engraving, which prioritised clarity, balance, and the accurate representation of material surfaces. As a historical document, it offers insight into the sartorial choices and self-presentation of the French elite during the late eighteenth century. The print remains a clear example of the skill required to translate painted portraiture into the medium of engraving.