Portrait of Jean-Michel Moreau

Art Historical Context

This 1787 etching and engraving presents a refined portrait of Jean-Michel Moreau the Younger, a leading French draftsman and illustrator of the late eighteenth century. Created through the efforts of Augustin de Saintubin, Charles Nicolas Cochin II, and Moreau himself, the print exists in its third and final state. The modest scale—roughly five by four inches within the plate—suggests it was designed for intimate viewing, perhaps in albums or private collections rather than public display. Etching and engraving were the dominant reproductive techniques of the period, prized for their ability to capture fine detail and tonal subtlety while allowing multiple impressions to circulate among collectors and scholars. Working in this medium, the artists achieved a crisp yet sensitive likeness that reflects the Enlightenment emphasis on clarity, intellect, and professional camaraderie. As a collaborative portrait of one of its own makers, the work offers a glimpse into the tightly knit artistic community of pre-Revolutionary Paris, where printmakers both celebrated and preserved one another’s images for posterity.

About the Artist

Augustin de Saint-Aubin|Charles Nicolas Cochin II|Jean Michel Moreau the Younger · 1736–1807

Comment on works: Illustrator; Engraver