Pierre Seguier
1635
Medium
engraving on laid paper; laid down
Dimensions
sheet (trimmed within plate mark): 29.2 x 20.5 cm (11 1/2 x 8 1/16 in.)
Classification
Department
CG-E
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Gift of John O'Brien
Accession Number
1991.164.61
Art Historical Context
This striking 1635 engraving by Michel Lasne portrays Pierre Séguier, a prominent French statesman who served as Chancellor of France during the reigns of Louis XIII and Louis XIV. Created at the height of the Baroque era, the print captures the formal dignity expected of such a powerful figure, reflecting the era’s emphasis on authority and refined elegance. Lasne, a skilled French engraver known for his detailed reproductive prints, brought a precise and measured touch to the work, typical of 17th-century portraiture intended to convey status and character. As an engraving on laid paper, th...
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...