François Le Clerc Du Tremblay, dit le Père Joseph 1638

Editor: This is a striking engraving from 1638 by Claude Mellan. It's a portrait of François Le Clerc Du Tremblay, also known as Père Joseph. It's currently housed at The Met. I am fascinated by the intensity of the sitter's gaze and all those engraved lines that give a sense of texture. How do you read this piece? Curator: Ah, yes, a mesmerizing piece! It almost vibrates, doesn't it? To me, it's like looking through a keyhole into the 17th century. Père Joseph, or "Eminence Grise," the gray eminence, was a Capuchin friar and advisor to Cardinal Richelieu. Think of him as Richelieu's…right-hand monk. This engraving captures him in a moment of intense contemplation. What does the inclusion of the crucifix suggest to you? Editor: Perhaps it emphasizes his piety, his devotion to his faith? I see his hands are clasped, too, reinforcing that feeling of deep thought and religious dedication. Curator: Exactly. Mellan, through his masterful use of the burin, creates a powerful statement about Joseph's inner world and political influence, even though he wasn't *officially* in power. You almost get the sense he could see into your very soul! Don't you think the engraving, stark as it is, also shows him to be quite shrewd? Almost cunning, one might say. Editor: It’s fascinating how much character can be conveyed with such simple means. The intensity is palpable. Curator: Indeed! And consider the power of reproducible images at that time; imagine the circulation of this image throughout Europe, shaping perceptions and solidifying Joseph's persona. What a clever piece of propaganda if you ask me. I think that really stuck with me this time around. What about you? Editor: Definitely the way Mellan created depth and character from line alone. Gives me some goals for my own printmaking!