Maréchal Jean-Baptiste Budes, Comte de Guébriant c. 17th century

Curator: This is Robert Nanteuil’s portrait of Maréchal Jean-Baptiste Budes, Comte de Guébriant. Editor: It’s striking how the textures and materials are rendered – the armour, the lace collar, even the sitter's hair. It has a real tactile quality. Curator: Nanteuil was a master of engraving, transforming the copper plate through careful tooling. His prints were highly valued objects in their time. Editor: These prints circulated widely, shaping public perception of important figures. Think about how this image would solidify the Comte's status and power. Curator: Absolutely, and consider the labor involved in creating each impression. It collapses distinctions between fine art and craft production, really. Editor: Yes, these images become political objects themselves, influencing social hierarchies. Curator: I’m drawn to the way Nanteuil’s technical skills elevated the print to an art form, even today. Editor: For me, it's how artworks like these mediate power, reflecting and shaping their historical moment.