Simon-Nicolas-Henri Linguet

Art Historical Context

This elegant engraving, titled *Simon-Nicolas-Hri Linguet*, captures likeness of the controversial French lawyer and writer (1736–1794), rendered by master engraver Augustin de Saintubin after a design by painter Jean-Baptiste Greuze. in 1780, it reflects the vibrant print culture of late 18th-century France, reproductive prints like this made prestigious portraits accessible to a wider audience beyond oil paintings. Greuze, known for his sentimental genre scenes and dramatic portraits bridging Rococo elegance and emerging Neoclassicism, likely provided the original image emphasizing Linguet's intense expression—befitting a figure infamous for challenging Enlightenment thinkers like Voltaire and defending the rights of the poor against economic elites. Linguet’s tumultuous life, marked by exile and imprisonment, added intrigue to such depictions amid pre-Revolutionary tensions. The technique of engraving over etching on laid paper allowed Saint-Aubin, from a renowned family of printmakers, to achieve fine lines and rich tonal depth in this compact 22 x 15 cm sheet. Housed in the National Gallery of Art as a gift from John O'Brien, it exemplifies how prints preserved cultural icons, blending artistry with historical commentary for posterity.