Artwork
Charles d'Orléans-Longueville, Comte de Dunois
Charles d'Orléans-Longueville, Comte de Dunois is an ink print by the Baroque artist Robert Nanteuil. It dates from 1660 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Created in 1660 by the French engraver Robert Nanteuil, this print presents a portrait of Charles d'Orléans-Longueville, who bore the title Comte de Dunois. Executed in black ink on paper, the image is framed by a dense ornamental border that frames the sitter’s solemn visage and elaborate attire.
Subject & Meaning
The figure depicted is Charles d'Orléus‑Longueville, a nobleman of the French aristocracy. His composed expression, curled hair, and the presence of a heraldic shield bearing a crown and decorative foliage underscore his rank and the dignified bearing expected of a count in the mid‑seventeenth century.
Technique & Style
Nanteuil employed fine, cross‑hatched lines to model the facial features and the texture of the lace collar, while broader, rhythmic strokes render the patterned garment. The surrounding border consists of interlaced linear motifs that function both as decorative framing and as a demonstration of the engraver’s command of line to suggest depth and surface.
History & Provenance
The engraving was produced during Nanteuil’s tenure at the court of Louis XIV, a period when the artist supplied portraits of high‑ranking officials and members of the nobility. The work likely circulated among the court’s elite, serving both as a record of the count’s appearance and as a token of his status within the royal network.
Context
In the mid‑seventeenth century, portrait engravings functioned as portable, reproducible images that could be disseminated beyond the confines of painted portraiture. Nanteuil’s print reflects the broader French Baroque emphasis on order, hierarchy, and the visual affirmation of noble identity through carefully rendered insignia and attire.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Robert Nanteuil (French pronunciation:; 1623 – 9 December 1678) was a French portrait artist: engraver, draughtsman and pastellist to the court of Louis XIV.
