1803
ink
paper
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Dominant colour
Charles Louis de Secondat Montesquieu is a 1803 ink by Augustin de Saint-Aubin, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a black-and-white portrait of a man in profile, facing left. His hair is curly, and he wears a loose shirt with a draped collar. The oval shape is framed by a simple border, and the name "MONTESQUIEU" is printed below it. The image is an engraving, which means it was carved into a metal plate and then printed. This method lets artists create sharp lines and detailed textures. Look up etching to see how it works and why it was popular for portraits.
Augustin de Saint-Aubin sometimes styled Auguste de Saint-Aubin (3 January 1736 – 9 November 1807), belongs to an important dynasty of French designers and engravers.
See the richer artist page
