Pierre Séguier - Robert Nanteuil

A formal 1667 portrait engraving of Pierre Séguier by the master printmaker Robert Nanteuil, after a painting by Charles Le Brun.

This engraving by Robert Nanteuil depicts Pierre Séguier, the Chancellor of France, in a formal oval frame. Nanteuil, a master of the burin, achieved a high level of precision in his portraiture, which was highly sought after by the French aristocracy and the court of Louis XIV. The work is based on a painting by Charles Le Brun, as indicated by the inscription 'Car. le Brun pinxit' at the bottom left.

The portrait captures the subject with a focus on texture and light. The fine lines of the engraving create a sense of volume in the subject's face and the fabric of his robes. The collar and the insignia of the Order of the Holy Spirit are rendered with particular attention to detail, reflecting the status of the sitter. The oval frame is inscribed with Latin text, identifying the subject and his role, while a coat of arms is positioned at the base, adding to the formal nature of the composition.

Nanteuil was instrumental in elevating the status of the portrait print in seventeenth-century France. His technique involved a systematic approach to shading, using varied line weights to suggest the contours of the face and the weight of the clothing. This print is a representative example of his ability to translate the painterly qualities of Le Brun's work into the medium of copperplate engraving. The clarity of the image and the controlled use of shadow provide a sense of presence, typical of the period's approach to official portraiture. The work remains a clear record of the visual culture surrounding the French administration during the reign of the Sun King.