Robert Nanteuil (c. 1623-1678)
Portrait of René de Longueil,
Marquis of Maisons (c. 1610-1677)
1661, engraving on paper, first state of five [?]
12 3/4 x 9 13/16 inches (32.4 x 24.9 cm) (image size)
Gift of Mrs. Frederick Paul Keppel (C00.0802.120)

In this portrait of René de Longueil, Nanteuil’s exceptional ability to capture the texture of the fur in the sitter’s magistrate robe is front and center. The artist used a combination of lines varying in sinuosity, depth and direction to achieve this dazzling effect. The rich tactile quality of the print is also manifest in the treatment of Longueil’s dense hair, surrounding his round features and shrewd gaze. Longueil held many prominent official positions throughout his career and was therefore frequently selected as a thesis dedicatee. He was also the commissioner of the splendid château of Maisons, built by François Mansart and emblematic of Longueil’s taste for pleasure, tangible in this portrait.