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Nicholas Boileau

François Chereau I

1704

ink

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Baroque 18th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Nicholas Boileau is a 1704 ink by François Chereau I, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: François Chereau I
When & what style?: 1704 · Baroque
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with curly hair and a ruffled collar. He’s wearing a high-necked coat and looks like he’s posing for a formal picture. The background is plain, so the focus is on his face and the folds of his clothing. The artist used shading to show texture in his hair and fabric. This kind of detailed engraving was common in the Baroque period. Next, look up etching to see how artists create these sharp, precise lines.