Nicolas Ysambert
in or after 1642
Medium
engraving on laid paper
Dimensions
plate: 29.2 x 18.8 cm (11 1/2 x 7 3/8 in.) sheet: 30 x 19.3 cm (11 13/16 x 7 5/8 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of John O'Brien
Accession Number
1991.164.54
Art Historical Context
Michel Lasne's *Nicolas Ysambert*, an engraving on laid paper created in or after 164, offers a striking 17th-century portrait that captures the dignified presence of its namesake subject. Measuring 29.2 x 18.8 cm on the, this intimate print exemplifies the precision of French engraving during the Baroque era. Laid paper, with its characteristic chain lines from the manufacturing process, was a favored medium for high-quality prints, allowing ink to hold finely in the incised lines of the copper plate. Lasne (c. 1590–1667), a skilled Parisian engraver, specialized in portraits that preserved ...
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...