Simon Dreux d'Aubray

Art Historical Context

Behold *Simon Dreux d'Aubray* (1658), a masterful engraving by Robert Nanteuil, one of finest French portrait engravers of the 17th century Created during the reign of Louis XIV this second state of two—refined from its initial version—captures the sitter in exquisite detail on a generous sheet measuring 17 3/8 × 12 13/16 inches. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department, exemplifies the era's obsession with precise, lifelike portraiture, gifted to the museum in 2001 by Mr. Lev Tsitrin. Nanteuil, a leading figure in French printmaking, elevated engraving to an art form rivaling painting, blending Baroque elegance with classical restraint. His technique—fine lines, subtle tonal gradations, and meticulous rendering of textures like lace and fabric—allowed portraits to be widely disseminated among the elite, preserving the likenesses of nobles, officials, and intellectuals. This work's plate size (12 11/16 × 9 15/16 inches) highlights the intimacy of the composition, drawing viewers into the subject's dignified gaze. As a classified print, it underscores engraving's cultural role in 17th-century France: not just reproduction, but a medium for status and legacy. Imagine it hanging in a grand salon, sparking conversations about power and personality— a timeless window into the Sun King's world.

About the Artist

Robert Nanteuil · 1623–1678

Robert Nanteuil (1623-1678) was a French portrait engraver, draughtsman, and pastellist who became the preeminent portraitist to the court of Louis XIV. His technical mastery and royal patronage fundamentally transformed the status of engraving in France, elevating it from a mechanical craft to a recognized fine art. Nanteuil stands as the outstanding French portrait engraver of the seventeenth c...