Louis Michel Vanloo
Medium
engraving with etching on wove paper
Dimensions
plate: 40.2 x 28.2 cm (15 13/16 x 11 1/8 in.) sheet: 42.5 x 30.1 cm (16 3/4 x 11 7/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of John O'Brien
Accession Number
1985.44.12
Art Historical Context
This engraving with etching, created by Simon Charles Miger in 1779 after an original work by Louis Michel Van Loo, presents a refined portrait of the noted French painter. Measuring approximately 40 by 28 in the plate, the print exemplifies the reproductive techniques popular in late eighteenth-century Europe. Miger’s careful combination of engraving and etching allowed for precise lines and tonal depth, faithfully translating the original painting into a widely distributable format. Such prints played a role in disseminating images of prominent artists and intellectuals during the Enlighten...