Henri II de Lorraine, marquis de Mouy

Art Historical Context

Step into the elegant world of 17th French portraiture with Robert Nanteuil's engravingHenri II de Lorraine,quis de Mouy* (ca. 1651). Nanteuil, one of the finest engravers of his era and an official artist to King Louis XIV, masterfully captures the noble bearing of Henri II de Lorraine a prominent member of the illustrious House of Lorraine. As marquis de Moy, this sitter was a seasoned military figure and courtier during France's grand siècle, a time when aristocratic portraits symbolized power, lineage, and loyalty to the Sun King. This rare first state of three—before later refinements—showcases Nanteuil's virtuoso technique in engraving, a meticulous intaglio process where lines are incised into a copper plate with burins and etched with acid for depth and texture. The medium's significance lies in its reproducibility, allowing refined images of the elite to circulate widely among collectors and admirers, democratizing access to royal splendor. Measuring 13 7/16 × 10 1/2 inches, the sheet exudes a sense of intimate grandeur. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of Mrs. Orme Wilson, 1963), this print exemplifies the pinnacle of Baroque portrait engraving, blending psychological insight with technical precision for an enduring tribute to French nobility.

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...