Perefixe de Beaumont

Perefixe de Beaumont

Nicolas Pitau I

1666

ink

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a black-and-white portrait of a serious-looking man in a dark collar and star-shaped brooch. His face is framed inside a round border with a woven texture, and a coat of arms sits below it. The background is plain, but the edges of the oval have a star pattern and cross-hatching lines. The artist used fine lines to create shadows and depth, which makes the face stand out. This style was common in the 1600s for formal portraits. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made detailed prints.

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