Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé
1662
Medium
Engraving; second state of three (Petitjean & Wickert)
Dimensions
Sheet: 13 7/8 × 10 5/8 in. (35.2 × 27 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Mr. Lev Tsitrin, 2001
Accession Number
2001.647.18
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
About this artwork
Robert Nanteuil's 1662 engraving of Louis II de Bourbon, Prince de Condé, represents French Baroque portraiture at its most refined and politically charged. Created in August 1662 (as documented by the plate inscription "R. Nanteüil faciebat Mense Augustij 1662"), this imposing print (13 7/8 × 10 5/8 inches) depicts "Le Grand Condé" (1621-1686), France's greatest military commander, whose battlefield genius secured crucial victories but whose aristocratic pride led him to rebel against Louis XIV...
Art Historical Context
Step into the world of 17th-century French grandeur with Robert Nanteuil's 1662 engraving *Louis II de Bourbon, de Condé*. This second-state print, measuring 13⅞ × 10⅝ inches, captures "Le Grand Condé" (1621–1686), France's legendary military hero whose victories defined the era. Nanteuil, the master engraver from Reims (1623–1678), depicts the prince in aristocratic splendor, complete with coat of arms, embodying the poised dignity of French Baroque portraiture. Condé's life was as dramatic as his likeness: a battlefield genius who rebelled against Louis XIV during the Fronde civil wars (1648–1653), only to reconcile by 1662. Created that August—as inscribed on the plate—this portrait played a key political role, rehabilitating his image from rebel to loyal noble, circulating his rehabilitated visage across Europe in an age before photography. Nanteuil's virtuosity shines in his meticulous line work, building painterly tones and psychological depth that rival oil portraits. One of three states, this Met Museum gem (gift of Mr. Lev Tsitrin, 2001) highlights engravings' power to shape reputations, now cherished alongside holdings at Yale, the Art Institute of Chicago, and the British Museum. A testament to art's enduring diplomatic dance!
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...