Michel Lasne

Michel Lasne (ca. 1590–1667) was a French engraver, draughtsman, and collector who became one of the most prolific printmakers of the French Baroque period. Born in Caen around 1590, Lasne was the son of a goldsmith, which provided him with early exposure to metalworking techniques essential for engraving. His career spanned the reigns of Louis XIII and the early years of Louis XIV, during which he produced an astonishing body of work comprising at least 759 documented prints. Lasne's early training took him to Antwerp, where he was a member of the Guild of Saint Luke from 1617–18 and likely worked under the direction of Peter Paul Rubens and Anthony van Dyck. This exposure to Flemish Baroque masters significantly influenced his developing style. During this period, he created an engraving of Rubens's now-lost "Susanna and the Elders," which contained a dedication from Rubens himself to the Dutch humanist Anna Roemers Visscher. By 1621, Lasne had established himself in Paris, and in 1633 he achieved the prestigious position of official engraver to King Louis XIII, holding the title "dessinateur et graveur ordinaire du roi" (draftsman and engraver in ordinary to the king). This royal appointment brought numerous commissions, including at least 13 portraits of Louis XIII and 10 of Queen Anne of Austria. His reproductive engravings disseminated the works of major French, Italian, and Spanish masters throughout Europe. Lasne died on December 4, 1667, in Paris, leaving behind a legacy as one of the most technically accomplished engravers of his generation.