Nanteuil, Robert罗贝尔·南特伊

Robert Nanteuil (1623-1678) was a French portrait engraver, draughtsman, and pastellist who became the preeminent portraitist to the court of Louis XIV. His technical mastery and royal patronage fundamentally transformed the status of engraving in France, elevating it from a mechanical craft to a recognized fine art. Nanteuil stands as the outstanding French portrait engraver of the seventeenth century. His influence was instrumental in securing the royal edict of 1660, which officially declared engraving distinct from the mechanical arts and granted its practitioners the same privileges as painters and sculptors. This landmark decree fundamentally altered the professional standing of engravers throughout France. Born in Reims as the son of a wool merchant, Nanteuil pursued philosophical studies while simultaneously developing his engraving skills under his brother-in-law, Nicolas Regnesson. By 1645, he had already become an accomplished engraver. In 1647, he relocated to Paris, where his drawing style was influenced by Philippe de Champaigne and his engraving technique drew from Claude Mellan and Jean Morin. Nanteuil's clientele encompassed the highest echelons of French and European society, including Louis XIV (of whom he made nineteen portraits at various periods), Cardinal Richelieu, and Queen Christina of Sweden. Of his approximately 300 plates, he drew 155 of his 221 portraits directly from life.