Jean Fronteau 1663

Curator: Robert Nanteuil, a prominent figure in 17th-century French engraving, presents us with this compelling portrait of Jean Fronteau. The artwork resides here at the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There's such stillness in his face, almost a melancholy. The tight oval frame constrains him, but the light makes him glow. Curator: Portraits like this were crucial for establishing status and legacy. Fronteau, as Chancellor of the University of Paris, likely commissioned this to circulate among intellectual circles. Editor: I love how the artist captured the texture of the fabric in his clerical robe. It makes me want to reach out and touch it, feel the weight of his office, perhaps. Curator: Absolutely. Nanteuil was a master of capturing minute details, elevating the status of printmaking as a fine art. This print offers a fascinating glimpse into the intellectual and social networks of the era. Editor: It's more than just historical documentation, though. There is an undeniable humanity that transcends time. It invites us to ponder the weight of responsibility and perhaps, the price of ambition.