|
Date: |
|
Description: | unbound volume; binding in 11/E/12 s. in plate b. r. "R. Nanteuil ad vivum ping. et Sculpebat 1662."; inscr. in plate on plinth "Missire Nicolas Fouequet = Chevalier, Vicomte de Melun / et de Vaux, Conseiller du = Roy en ses conseils, Ministre / d'Estat, Surintendant des = / finances et Procurateur General / de sa Majeste"; inscr. within plate mark b.c. "48."; inscr. in brown ink on supporting sheet b. c. "50."; inscr. hand-written in brown ink on supporting sheet t. c. "No. 51. [underlined]" CRE NANTEUIL, Robert; (French; 1623-1678) DES NANTEUIL, Robert; (French; 1623-1678) Part of William Hunter's original bequest, this is one of two volumes containing 216 engraved portraits by or after Robert Nanteuil. Head of the great school of 17th century French portrait engraving, his skill and reputation were unequalled. His sitters were distinguished figures of Louis XIV's court, mainly royalty, statesmen, military and church leaders.
Celebrated for its faithfulness to Nature and the simplicity of his designs , Nanteuil's work appealed equally to art lovers and to those fascinated by the achievements of 17th century France. Hunter's volumes are a rare surviving example of a comprehensive early 18th century collection of Nanteuil's work. Nicolas Fouquet came from a powerful Parisian family of administrators, supporters of Cardinal Mazarin. Appointed finance minister in 1653, he lent considerable sums to the treasury, making himself, in effect, banker to the King. A charismatic, flamboyant man and active patron of literary men, notably J. B. Moliere and J. de La Fontaine, he built one of France's most beautiful 17th century palaces and the inspiration behind Versailles, Vaux-le-Vicomte. Angered by his extravagance and mismanagement of funds, Louis XIV decided to make an example of him and sentenced him to life imprisonment. | License: | http://www.hmag.gla.ac.uk/spirit/rights/ | Publisher: | Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow | Rights holder: | Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow | Subjects: | PORTRAIT : HUNTER VOLUME : STATESMAN : LEGAL : COAT OF ARMS : CARTOUCHE : | Source: | Hunterian Museum | Creator: | Hunterian Museum and Art Gallery, University of Glasgow | Identifier: | http://www.huntsearch.gla.ac.uk/cgi-bin/... | Language: | en-GB | Go to resource |
|
|