Sculpture Bust of a Child, to the right

Art Historical Context

This charming mezzotint print,Sculpture Bust a Child, to the*, captures the delicate features of a child's bust sculpted by the renowned Flemish Baroque artist François Du Quesnoy (7–1646). Du Quesnoy, a master of expressive portraiture, was celebrated for his lifelike depictions of children, blending classical idealism with tender realism during the mid-17th century—a time when Baroque art emphasized emotion and movement across Europe. The print was executed by Wallerant Vaillant (1623–1677), a Dutch innovator who helped pioneer mezzotint, a revolutionary technique invented around 1640. Unlike traditional engraving's sharp lines, mezzotint creates velvety tones by roughening a copper plate and selectively smoothing areas to produce deep shadows and subtle gradations—ideal for replicating sculpture's soft modeling. This second state of two, measuring just 6 3/16 x 5 7/16 inches, showcases Vaillant's skill in translating three-dimensional form into luminous print, making high art accessible to collectors. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, this work from The Elisha Whittelsey Collection highlights the era's fusion of sculpture and printmaking, bridging elite patronage with wider appreciation of childhood innocence amid Baroque grandeur.

About the Artist

Wallerant Vaillant|François Du Quesnoy · 1623–1677

Wallerant Vaillant (1623-1677) was a French-born Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker who pioneered the mezzotint technique in printmaking. Born in Lille on May 30, 1623, he died in Amsterdam on August 28, 1677, leaving behind a significant legacy as both a portraitist and innovator in graphic arts. Vaillant holds a distinguished place in art history as one of the first professional artists to...