Portret van Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux

About this artwork

mezzotint en gravure

Art Historical Context

This elegant engraving, *Portret van Nicolas Boau-Despréaux* by Dutch artist Johannes de Groot (), dates to the mid-18th century (2–1776) and measures a compact 242 × 173 mm. Crafted as a mezzotint and traditional gravure, it exemplifies the technical prowess of printmaking during the Enlightenment era, when portraits of intellectuals proliferated to honor cultural luminaries. Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux (1636–1711), the renowned French poet and literary critic, championed classical principles in works like *L'Art poétique*, influencing European literature profoundly. De Groot's posthumous port...