Louis de La Tour d'Auvergne, Count of Evreux - Georg Friedrich Schmidt

A formal portrait engraving by Georg Friedrich Schmidt, depicting the Count of Evreux in military armour, based on an original painting by Hyacinthe Rigaud.

This portrait engraving by Georg Friedrich Schmidt depicts Louis de La Tour d'Auvergne, Count of Evreux, in a composition that reflects the formal traditions of eighteenth-century French aristocratic portraiture. Schmidt, a German printmaker who spent significant time in Paris, was highly regarded for his technical precision in reproducing the works of painters such as Hyacinthe Rigaud. The original painting by Rigaud provides the basis for this print, capturing the subject in full military regalia.

The Count is shown in polished armour, his hand resting upon a baton of command, which signifies his status as a high-ranking military officer. Beside him sits a plumed helmet, resting on a rocky ledge. The background features a distant skirmish, a common device in military portraiture to suggest the subject's active participation in the campaigns of the French monarchy. The contrast between the smooth, reflective surfaces of the metal armour and the soft, voluminous folds of the fabric draped across his lap demonstrates Schmidt's mastery of the burin and etching needle.

Schmidt's work is characterised by a disciplined approach to line and tone. He employs varied hatching techniques to create depth and volume, ensuring that the textures of the skin, the metal, and the sky are distinct. The inclusion of the full title and rank of the sitter at the base of the print follows the conventions of the period, serving as a formal identification of the individual. This print offers a clear view into the visual language of the French court, where military prowess and noble lineage were presented through carefully constructed imagery. The work remains a fine example of the reproductive printmaking tradition, where the engraver acted as a bridge between the original oil painting and a wider audience of collectors.