Charles II de Gonzague-Clèves, duc de Mantoue 1647 - 1657

This engraving of Charles II de Gonzague-Clèves, Duke of Mantua, was made by Robert Nanteuil, one of the most celebrated French printmakers of the 17th century. Nanteuil’s choice of medium is itself interesting. The engraving process allowed for the precise rendering of detail, which suited the representational needs of the French aristocracy. This portrait is a performance of status. Note the Duke’s elaborate wig, his lace collar, and the suggestion of armor beneath a draped sash. Consider the institutional context in which Nanteuil was working. Royal patronage was a key factor. To understand the significance of this image, one might consult primary sources from the period: letters, diaries, and official records that shed light on the social and political role of portraiture. The historian's job is to situate such images in their own time, to ask what work they were meant to do, and to investigate how artistic institutions shaped their production.