Robert Nanteuil (c. 1623-1678)
After Pierre Mignard (1612-1695)
Portrait of Anne of Austria (1601-1666)
1660, engraving on paper, second state of six
12 7/8 x 9 13/16 in. (32.7 x 24.9 cm) (image size)
Gift of Mrs. Frederick Paul Keppel (C00.0802.009)

Anne of Austria played a key political role until 1661 – the year Nanteuil created this engraving after a portrait by Mignard. The crown and fleur-de-lis mantle signify her royal status. Similarly, the inscription and coat of arms adorning the fictive oval frame refer to her rank. Even though Nanteuil developed a style of his own, he recognized the necessity to convey the sitter’s function in the public sphere. Few women held positions of power in 17th-century France, a reality that Nanteuil’s oeuvre reflects: Anne of Austria is one of only eight portraits of women by the artist, and only one of two in Columbia’s collection. This impression shows natural damage incurred over the print’s rich and varied life.