1752
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
La Prééminence de la France reconnue par l'Espagne 1662 (The Preeminance of France Recognized by Spain 1662) [pl. 17] is a 1752 ink by Jean-Baptiste Massé, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This engraving shows a busy scene framed like a grand stage. At the top, two chubby cherubs hold up a wreath with fruit and flowers. Below them, a crowned figure with a serious face sits in a throne-like chair. On either side, two strong men in togas stand—one holding a shield with a lion, the other a spear. The whole scene is packed with swirls, flowers, and fancy borders. The title at the bottom says it’s about France and Spain, but the image is more about drama and detail. The figures look like they’re from ancient times, but the style feels fancy and decorative. This is made using engraving, so the lines and shading create the whole picture.
Jean-Baptiste Massé (29 December 1687, in Paris – 26 September 1767, in Paris) was a French miniature painter, engraver, and draftsman, best remembered as the court painter of Louis XV, for training Jean-Étienne Liotard…
See the richer artist page![Ambassades envoyées des extrêmités de la Terre (Embassies Sent from the Extremities of the Globe) [pl. 15]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/d683ea402b3c3659/thumb.webp)
![Renouvellement d'Alliance avec les Suisses 1663 (Renewal of Alliance with the Swiss 1663) [pl. 18]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/b0549fa383211be6/thumb.webp)
![Protection accordée aux beaux-arts 1663 (Protection Granted to the Fine Arts 1663) [pl. 24]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/045f3db9c3e49b51/thumb.webp)
![Coupole du Salon de la Paix (Cupola of the Salon of Peace) [pl. 44]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/083dda9da8b00531/thumb.webp)
![L'Allemagne Cintre du Salon de la Guerre du côté des appartemens du Roi (Germany, Center of the Salon of War next to the King's Chambers) [pl. 37]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/107e6bb2bd4fa1ce/thumb.webp)
![L'Espagne Cintre du Salon de la Paix sur l'Arcade de la Galerie (Spain, Center of the Salon of Peace in the Gallery's Arcade) [pl. 47]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/1780f995882c221b/thumb.webp)
![Coupole du Salon de la Guerre (Cupola of the Salon of War) [pl. 35]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/2b9793f18c09c4bc/thumb.webp)
![L'Europe Chrêtienne en Paix Cintre du Salon de la Paix du côté des appartemens de la Reine (Christian Europe in Peace, Center of the Salon of Peace next to the Queen's Chambers) [pl. 45]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/42b41626259ce77e/thumb.webp)
![L'Allemagne Cintre du Salon de la Paix en face de la Galerie (Germany, Center of the Salon of Peace Opposite the Gallery) [pl. 46]](https://pub-3a17a9933ad74fb28aa30fa758592f23.r2.dev/artworks/447dbb6c5f024d11/thumb.webp)