Mathieu Mole
1551 to 1600
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 25 x 19 cm (9 13/16 x 7 1/2 in.) sheet: 34.5 x 25.6 cm (13 9/16 x 10 1/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of John O'Brien
Accession Number
1991.164.87
Art Historical Context
Behold *Mathieu Mole*, a striking engraving by the French artist Michel Lasne, created between 1551 and 1600. This portrait captures the likeness of Mathieu Mole, likely a notable figure of the era, rendered with the precision characteristic of Renaissance printmaking. Lasne, active during this dynamic period in French art, contributed to the growing tradition of portrait engravings that immortalized intellectuals, officials, and elites, making high art accessible beyond paintings. Crafted as an engraving on laid paper—a handmade sheet with distinctive chain lines visible under light—the work...
About the Artist
Michel Lasne · 1590–1667
Michel Lasne (ca. 1590–1667) was a French engraver, draughtsman, and collector who became one of the most prolific printmakers of the French Baroque period. Born in Caen around 1590, Lasne was the son of a goldsmith, which provided him with early exposure to metalworking techniques essential for engraving. His career spanned the reigns of Louis XIII and the early years of Louis XIV, during which h...