Artwork
Étienne Pasquier
Étienne Pasquier is an ink print by the Baroque artist Léonard Gaultier. It dates from 1617 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower center in plate: L. Gaultier incidit / 1617.; across bottom in plate: Nulla hic Paschasio manus est, Lex Cincia quippe / Caussidicos nullas sanxit habere manus.; around oval border in plate: STEPH. PASCHASIVS REGIARVM RATIONVM PATRONVS. Anno aetatis 87.
About this work
Overview
This 1617 engraving on laid paper presents a bearded, moustached man in a dark robe and hat, shown from the chest upward with his head turned slightly to the right. The portrait is rendered in a tightly controlled, formal manner, emphasizing the sitter’s solemn expression against an unadorned background that directs the viewer’s focus to his face.
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a seated gentleman, likely a person of some standing in early‑17th‑century France, as suggested by his attire and dignified bearing. The restrained pose and grave countenance convey a sense of authority and gravitas, typical of portraiture intended to affirm the sitter’s social status and personal virtues.
Technique & Style
Engraved with fine, intersecting lines, the image achieves depth through meticulous hatching and cross‑hatching, creating subtle tonal variations that model the facial features and fabric. The execution reflects a precise, somewhat rigid aesthetic, aligning with the practices of contemporary engravers such as the Wierix brothers and Crispyn van de Passe, whose influence is evident in the crisp delineation and controlled composition.
History & Provenance
Created by Léonard Gaultier, a French engraver of German origin who worked in Paris from the late 16th century until his death in 1641, the print forms part of a prolific output exceeding eight hundred works. Gaultier’s career was marked by frequent portrait commissions, and this piece exemplifies his typical approach of producing highly detailed, formally composed images for the print market of his time.
Own this work as a print
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.
