Antoine de Chaubard by Robert Nanteuil

Antoine de Chaubard 1651

0:00
0:00

print, engraving

# 

portrait

# 

facial expression drawing

# 

baroque

# 

portrait image

# 

print

# 

charcoal drawing

# 

portrait reference

# 

portrait head and shoulder

# 

portrait drawing

# 

facial study

# 

facial portrait

# 

engraving

# 

portrait art

# 

fine art portrait

Copyright: National Gallery of Art: CC0 1.0

Curator: This is Robert Nanteuil's engraving of Antoine de Chaubard, made in 1651. The texture achieved through the engraving is quite something. What’s your immediate take? Editor: Melancholy, wouldn't you say? There's a gravity in his eyes that seems to transcend the typical aristocratic portraiture of the time. Also, there's a remarkable subtlety in the rendering of his face, almost like a charcoal drawing rather than a print. Curator: Absolutely, that somber mood is palpable. Nanteuil was a master of engraving; he used delicate lines to build volume and capture nuanced expressions. It’s more than just a record; it feels like an encounter. The formality of Baroque portraiture is subverted by a glimpse into the sitter’s interiority. It almost begs the question, who was Chaubard beyond his status? Editor: That tension between representation and inner life is precisely what intrigues me. Here's this member of the Parisian bourgeoisie – Chaubard was a counselor to the King – encased in the formal frame, the elaborate dress, even the heraldry at the bottom, yet the artist manages to convey something of his person. It reflects how printmaking served a broader public function at this time, bringing imagery and, thus, the idea of status into more homes and hands. Curator: And notice how the oval frame around Chaubard's image isn't just decorative, it's another layer, setting him apart, almost cradling him. I’d love to know how the dynamics of the sitting played out, if they spoke, or if Nanteuil merely observed. One senses, regardless, a genuine effort at understanding. Perhaps even an empathy which cuts through centuries. Editor: Well, and think of the politics embedded within these types of commissions. Patronage was essential, so Nanteuil would have to deliver not just artistic skill but a presentation that upheld Chaubard's standing and reflected well on the crown he served. Even if it allowed for that intriguing glimmer of melancholy! Curator: The subtle imperfections are fascinating, too. He’s not idealized; his humanity shines through despite the constraints of the genre and period. Editor: Indeed. It makes one wonder about the stories behind the faces that history often reduces to names and dates. A quiet dignity radiates through it, defying the strictures of its time.

Show more

Comments

No comments

Be the first to comment and join the conversation on the ultimate creative platform.