Charles-Maurice Le Tellier
1663
Medium
Engraving; first state of two (Petitjean & Wickert)
Dimensions
Sheet: 16 7/8 × 11 1/8 in. (42.9 × 28.3 cm) Plate: 13 1/16 × 10 1/8 in. (33.1 × 25.7 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Rogers Fund, 1920
Accession Number
20.13.3
Tags
Art Historical Context
This elegant engraving by Robert Nanteuil captures Charles-Maurice Leier, a prominent figure in the court of Louis XIV, rendered in the first state of two—a rare early impression noted by scholars Petitjean and Wickert. Created in 1663, during the height of France's Grand Siècle, the portrait exemplifies Nanteuil's mastery as one of the era's finest engravers. His delicate line work and meticulous attention to texture bring the subject's dignified features, attire, and lace details to life, making it a standout example of 17th-century printmaking. Nanteuil (c. 1623–1678), a specialist in port...
About the Artist
Robert Nanteuil · 1623–1678
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 c...