Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle
Medium
Engraving, with touches of gray wash
Dimensions
Sheet: 16 9/16 × 11 3/16 in. (42 × 28.4 cm) Plate: 13 1/4 × 9 7/16 in. (33.6 × 23.9 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
The Elisha Whittelsey Collection, The Elisha Whittelsey Fund, 2022
Accession Number
2022.360
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This striking 1554 engraving portrays Antoine Perrenot de Gran, a powerful 16th-century cardinal,, and advisor to Holy Roman Emperor Charles V and later Philip II of Spain. by Flemish engraver Lambert Suavius, portrait captures Granvelle at the height of his influence, the turbulent religious and political upheavals of the Reformation era. As a key figure in Habsburg diplomacy, Granvelle navigated the complexities of Catholic Counter-Reformation politics and the emerging conflicts in the Netherlands, making this image a window into Renaissance courtly power. Suavius's mastery shines in the intricate engraving technique, where fine lines incised into a metal plate produce rich tonal contrasts and lifelike detail. The subtle touches of gray wash—applied by hand after printing—add depth and modeling to the face and drapery, elevating the print from mere reproduction to a nuanced artwork. Measuring about 13¼ × 9½ inches on the plate, it exemplifies the Northern Renaissance's blend of precision and expressiveness, bridging painting and printmaking for wider dissemination among Europe's elite. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this piece from The Elisha Whittelsey Collection highlights engraving's role in immortalizing influential figures, offering visitors a tangible link to the intrigue of 16th-century Europe.
About the Artist
Cardinal Antoine Perrenot de Granvelle|Lambert Suavius ( |Netherlandish) · 1517 |1510 –1586 |1576
French, 1517–1586|Netherlandish, ca. 1510–by 1576