Artwork
Nicolas Abraham de la Framboisiere
Nicolas Abraham de la Framboisiere is an ink print by the Baroque artist Léonard Gaultier. It dates from 1624 and is held in the collection of the Rosenwald Collection.
About this work
Above his head, there’s a coat of arms with a crown and leaves, and a small plaque with the year "1624.
This is a black-and-white portrait of a man with a long white beard and deep wrinkles. He’s wearing a dark, high-collared robe with buttons down the front. Above his head, there’s a coat of arms with a crown and leaves, and a small plaque with the year "1624." The edges of the print have fancy scrollwork, and the bottom has Latin text in two sections.
The Latin text below his face praises him for writing about nature and health. The coat of arms suggests he was someone important, possibly a doctor or scholar.
If you like this style, look up engraving to see how artists carved these detailed prints.
Overview
Nicolas Abraham de la Framboisiere is a 1624 engraving by French artist Léonard Gaultier, portraying a dignified, elderly man adorned with symbols of distinction.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, identified by the titular name, is depicted with a coat of arms, crown, and leaves, indicating high status, potentially as a scholar or doctor, as suggested by the accompanying Latin text praising writings on nature and health.
Technique & Style
Executed solely with a graver, the engraving exemplifies Gaultier's meticulous, formal style, characteristic of his time and comparable to the Wierix and Crispyn van de Passe workshops.
History & Provenance
Created in 1624, this portrait is part of Gaultier's extensive oeuvre, which included religious, allegorical, and numerous portrait prints, highlighting his prominence in 17th-century French printmaking.
Context
The work's intricate details, such as scrollwork borders and Latin inscriptions, reflect the artistic and intellectual values of its era, while the subject's attire and accessories underscore his scholarly or professional achievements.
Legacy
As one of Gaultier's many precise engravings, Nicolas Abraham de la Framboisiere contributes to the artist's legacy as a significant figure in early 17th-century French printmaking, notable for his prolific output and detailed technique.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Léonard Gaultier, or, as he sometimes signed himself, Galter, a French engraver, was born at Mainz about 1561, and died in Paris in 1641.
- Nicolas Brulart
Andreas Rivetus, Doctor of Divinity and Professor
Joannes van Meurs, Dutch Classical Scholar
Galileo Galilei
Maximilian II, Archduke of Austria
Johan Faulhaber, Mathematician
Jacques-Auguste de Thou
William I, Prince of Orange
Vincent Muschinger
Jacobus Arminius
Diego Sarmiento de Acuna, Count of Gondomar
Martin Zobel