Nicolas Colbert
1601 to 1650
Medium
engraving
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Ailsa Mellon Bruce Fund
Accession Number
1974.116.24
Art Historical Context
Discover the elegant portrait *Nicolas Colbert*, an exquisite engraving by Nicolas Pitau I, reproducing a painting by the French artist Claude Lefebvre. Created between 1601 and 1650, this work captures the poised likeness of its namesake—a prominent figure likely from French nobility or ecclesiastical circles during the late Renaissance to early Baroque era. Pitau, a skilled Flemish engraver, specialized in translating paintings into prints, preserving Lefebvre's refined style known for its realistic facial details and dignified compositions. Engravings like this one were revolutionary in th...