Portrait of Henry IV

Art Historical Context

This delicate etching, *Portrait of Henry IV*, the collaborative talents of French engravers Pierre Philippe Choffard Hubert François Gravelot, two masters of 18th-century printmaking Henry IV, the charismatic French king (r. 1589–1610) known as the "Good King" for his role in ending the of Religion and issuing the Edict of Nantes is depicted in a refined profile, evoking the grandeur of Bourbon monarchy. Created undated but typical of the Rococo era's elegant portraiture, the work reflects how prints immortalized historical figures for a wide audience, bridging royal iconography with everyday admiration. The medium—etching combined with stipple—highlights innovative techniques of the time. Etching allowed for fluid, expressive lines incised into a copper plate with acid, while stipple employed fine dots to create subtle tonal gradations and a soft, painterly texture. As a "first state," this trimmed sheet (3 5/8 × 5 1/2 in.) represents the purest impression before later alterations, prized by collectors for its crisp detail and freshness. Housed in The Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (Anonymous Gift, 1924), it exemplifies how such prints democratized art, making regal portraits accessible beyond oil paintings. Step into the Met's virtual galleries to appreciate this gem—its intricate stippling invites close inspection, revealing the engravers' skill in capturing Henry's noble gaze and the era's cultural reverence for enlightened leadership.