Portret van Jules Mazarin

About this artwork

plaatrand: hoogte 190 mm x breedte 128 mm

Art Historical Context

This engraving, created by Jean Frosne between 1652 and 1676, presents a portrait of Jules Mazarin, the influential Italian-born cardinal who served as chief minister to the young Louis XIV. Measuring just 190 by 128 millimeters, the compact print captures Mazarin during the height of his political power in France, a period marked by the aftermath of the Fronde civil wars and the consolidation of absolute monarchy. As an engraving, the work reflects the era’s growing reliance on printmaking to circulate images of prominent figures across Europe. Unlike unique paintings, engravings allowed mul...

About the Artist

Jean Frosne · 1630–1700

Jean Frosne (circa 1614–after 1682) was a French engraver whose career spanned much of the 17th century, producing portraits, landscapes, and ornamental prints during the reigns of Louis XIII and Louis XIV. Born around 1614 (originally named Jean Froonens, son of a Flemish tapestry maker from the Gobelins), Frosne emerged from humble origins to become an accomplished engraver whose works documente...