N. Lambert Seigneur de Thorigny: 17th C. Engraved Portrait After Largillière

Nicolas Lambert, Seigneur de Thorigny (1600-1664), was a French nobleman and military commander who lived in the 17th century. He served in the French army during the Thirty Years' War, a conflict that took place from 1618 to 1648 and involved many European powers. Lambert fought in several battles during the war and rose to the rank of colonel. After the war, Lambert returned to France and became involved in politics. He served as a member of the Estates General, a legislative body that advised the king, and as a governor of several provinces. He was a counsellor and confidant of King Louis XIV. He had the title of Président de la Chambre des Comptes. He also became a member of the French Academy of Sciences, a prestigious institution that promotes scientific research and scholarship. Lambert was known for his military expertise, his intelligence, and his commitment to public service. He iInherited the Hôtel Lambert in Paris from his brother Jean Baptiste in 1644 and hired some of the most prominent artists of the time, including Charles Le Brun to decorate and furnish the building.

This beautiful old master engraving was created with impressive detailed technique. It is printed on laid, chain-linked paper. The sheet measures 18.5" high and 13.38" wide. The sheet is adhered to an archival backing paper at the top. There is a faint horizontal center fold and mild discoloration in the inscription area and in the upper margin on the right, with mild wrinkling here. The print is otherwise in very good condition, considering its age. This engraving is so rare, that no comparable prints could be identified for sale online. It is currently only listed in museum collections, including: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The British Museum, The Louvre, The Riksmuseum, The Victoria & Albert Museum, The Fitzwilliam Museum at the U. of Cambridge, The Boston Museum of Fine Arts, Harvard Art Museums, The Finnish National Museum, The Philadelphia Museum. It is shown in the Metropolitan Museum's Cataloque of French paintings entitled: "French Paintings in The Metropolitan Museum of Art, published in 2018, page 36. The page is included in the photos.

Nicolas de Largillière (1656-1746) was a French portrait painter who achieved great success and acclaim during the late Baroque and Rococo periods. He was born in Paris and trained under the painter Antoine Goubeau. He studied in Antwerp and London before returning to France. While in England he was a favorite painter of King Charles II and King James II of England and Scotland, and later, King Louis XIV in France. Largillière went on to become a member of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in 1686 and received numerous commissions from the French nobility and aristocracy.

Largillière's style was characterized by his use of rich colors and his ability to capture the personality and individuality of his subjects in his portraits. He was also known for his skill in painting drapery and textiles, which added to the luxurious and opulent feel of his works. Among his most famous portraits are those of Louis XIV, his queen, Marie-Thérèse of Austria, and various other members of the French court. Largillière's success continued throughout his life, and he became one of the most prominent portrait painters of his time. His works can be found in museums and galleries all over the world, and his legacy has had a lasting impact on the history of French painting.

Pierre Drevet (1663-1738) was a French portrait engraver who achieved great success during the 18th century. He was born in Loire, France, and began his career as an apprentice to the engraver Gérard Audran in Paris. Drevet went on to establish his own engraving workshop in the city, where he produced numerous engravings of notable figures of his time, including Louis XIV, Philippe d'Orléans, and Cardinal Dubois.

Drevet was known for his meticulous attention to detail and his ability to capture the likeness of his subjects with great accuracy. He was particularly renowned for his use of chiaroscuro, a technique that involves using strong contrasts of light and shade to create the illusion of depth and dimension in an image. Drevet's engravings were highly sought after by collectors and art enthusiasts throughout Europe, and his work had a significant influence on the development of portrait engraving during the 18th century. Today, his engravings can be found in numerous public and private collections, and he is considered one of the most important portrait engravers of his time.