Portret van Charles Rollin - Pierre François Bertonnier

A refined nineteenth-century engraving by Pierre François Bertonnier depicting the French historian Charles Rollin.

This engraving by Pierre François Bertonnier depicts the French historian and educator Charles Rollin (1661-1741). Bertonnier, a skilled French engraver active during the early nineteenth century, utilised traditional intaglio techniques to capture the likeness of the subject. The portrait presents Rollin in a bust-length format, wearing the clerical attire typical of his era, including a distinctive collar and a voluminous wig. The artist employs fine cross-hatching and stippling to create subtle gradations of tone, particularly within the shadows of the drapery and the contours of the face.

The composition is restrained, focusing entirely on the subject against a neutral background. This approach reflects the conventions of portraiture intended for inclusion in biographical volumes or historical archives. The clarity of the line work demonstrates the technical precision required for commercial engraving during this period. By isolating the figure, the artist directs the viewer's attention to the facial features and the intellectual character of the subject. The name 'ROLLIN' appears in simple, capitalised lettering beneath the portrait, a common feature in prints produced for educational or commemorative purposes.

Charles Rollin is best remembered for his historical writings, which were widely read throughout the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. This print serves as a visual record of his appearance, preserved through the medium of copperplate engraving. The work remains a representative example of the portrait prints that circulated in European intellectual circles, documenting the figures who shaped the academic discourse of the time. The print is characterised by its clean execution and adherence to the formal standards of the era, offering a clear, monochromatic representation of the historian.