Artwork
Jacques le Mercier
Jacques le Mercier is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jean Morin. It dates from 1625 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:around circumference in plate in border: IACQVES.LE.MERCIER.PREMIER.ARCHITECTE.DES.BASTIMEMTS.DV.ROY.ET.DE.LA.ROYNE.REGENTE.;lower left in plate: Ph. Champaigne pinx.; lower right in plate: I Morin scul cum priu Regis; lRv//in graphite: c.38939 / RD.69 / H & P 34 II/2
About this work
Overview
Jacques le Mercier is a black-and-white portrait print created by Jean Morin in 1625. The work is executed in etching, engraving, and stippling on laid paper.
Subject & Meaning
The print depicts Jacques le Mercier, a man with curly hair and a mustache, wearing a ruffled collar and dark coat. The plain background and ornate curved text framing the image are notable features.
Technique & Style
Morin employed a combination of techniques, including tiny dots and lines, to achieve detailed shading, particularly in the subject's face. This style was characteristic of 17th-century printmaking.
History & Provenance
Jean Morin, a French Baroque printmaker, created the work in 1625. Morin was known for innovating printmaking techniques, often merging engraving and etching on single plates, a method that gained widespread acceptance.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean Morin (c.1595 or 1605 – 1650) was a French baroque painter, printmaker, painter, etcher, engraver and publisher.
