Etienne Dalligre, Chancelier de France
17th century
Medium
Engraving
Dimensions
Sheet: 19 15/16 × 16 15/16 in. (50.7 × 43 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Lev Tsitrin, 2000
Accession Number
2000.416.91
Tags
Art Historical Context
This striking 17th-century engraving portrays Étienne d'Aligre, Chancellor of France, capturing the dignity and authority of one of the kingdom’s highest-ranking officials. Created by the renowned printmakers Gérard Edelinck and Robert Nanteuil, the work exemplifies the refined French portrait tradition that flourished under Louis XIV. Measuring nearly 20 by 17 inches, the large sheet allowed for remarkable detail in the rendering of the sitter’s elaborate robes, lace collar, and composed expression. Engraving was the preferred medium for reproducing official likenesses during this period, en...