Antoine Masson (1636 – 1700) French engraver. Masson’s portrait of “The Grey-Headed Man” is an example of his finest work. (Britannica).
Pierre Mignard was a French painter known for his religious and mythological scenes and portraits. He did a painting portrait of A. Masson, engraved by A. Masson himself.
Title: Portrait of Guillaume de Brisacier. (Portrait of the grey-headed man). G. de B. was Secretary to the Queen of France.
Dimensions: Image 13 1/2" x 10 1/4'. Framed 26 1/2" x 20 3/8.
Date: 1664.
Materials and Techniques: Engraving and etching on paper. Matted and framed.
Provenance: Heinz Estate, auctioned by Dargate.
Condition: Old stains, Mold, Wearings of the frame. Unexamined outside of the frame.
Signed, dated, and titled in the plate: N. Mignard Auenionensis Pinxit. Ant. Masson sculpebat. 1664. Guillaume de Brisacier Secretarie des Commandemens de la Reyne. Two labels and one new stamp on the back dust cover. 1. The label of the Heinz Estate: "Masson, Antoine (after Magnard) [sic] F 508 The Gray-Haired Man (Guillaume de Brisacier). 2. The label of an expert in works on paper describing another exemplar of the same engraving. 3. A new ink stamp of Miller Frame, Pgh.
Catalog Raisonne: Robert-Dumesnil. Le peintre-graveur français. V. 2. Paris, 1836. p. 111, # 15.
Museums: The Art Institute of Chicago. 1919.2515.
Carnegie Museum of Art. 23.13.14.