A formal nineteenth-century engraving by Ambroise Tardieu depicting the French politician Claude Tircuy de Corcelles.

This engraving by Ambroise Tardieu depicts Claude Tircuy de Corcelles, a French politician who served as a deputy for the Rhône department. The work dates to approximately 1818, the year of his election, and captures the formal aesthetic common to early nineteenth-century political portraiture. Tardieu, a skilled engraver, employs precise lines and subtle tonal variations to render the subject within a classic oval frame. The composition focuses on the sitter's features, presenting him in a dark coat with a high collar, reflecting the fashion of the Restoration period in France.

The print includes a formal inscription beneath the portrait, identifying the subject as 'M. de Corcelles, Député du Dép.t du Rhône, élu en 1818'. Such prints were often produced to document public figures and disseminate their likenesses to a wider audience during an era when lithography and engraving were the primary methods for visual communication. The clarity of the line work and the balanced shading demonstrate the technical proficiency expected of a professional engraver of the time. The paper retains its original margins, showing the plate mark and the clean, understated presentation typical of historical archives and private collections.

Ambroise Tardieu was known for his contributions to cartography and portraiture, often working on commissions that required a high degree of accuracy and formal restraint. This portrait is a representative example of his output, providing a clear visual record of a political figure from the early nineteenth century. The work is presented here as a museum-grade fine art print, maintaining the integrity of the original engraving's tonal range and fine detail. It offers a glimpse into the visual culture of post-Napoleonic France, where the portrait served as a standard medium for recording the appearance of those in public office.