Artist: Robert Nanteuil (1623 – 1678) was a French portrait artist: engraver, draughtsman, and pastellist to the court of Louis XIV.
Title: Portrait of François de la Mothe le Vayer. Le Vayer (French, 1588 – 1672), was a philosopher and a writer known as Orosius Tubero. He was the tutor of Louis XIV.
Signed, Titled, and Dated: Nanteuil ad vivum delin. et sculpebat. FRANCISCUS MOTHAEUS/UAYERIUS REGI A CONSILIIS/FRATRIQUE EIUS UNICO/A STUDIIS 1661.
Dimensions: 10 3/4" x 7 1/2".
Date: 1661.
Materials and Techniques: Engraving on laid paper. Watermark Fleur de Lis.
Mat and Frame: Matted.
Condition: creases to corners, and the center crease. A detailed condition report is available on demand.
Catalog Raisonne: Robert-Dumesnil. Le peintre-graveur français. Vol. 4. Paris, 1839. p.126, #143, I (tres-rare). Ch. Petitjean & Ch. Wickert. Catalogue de l'Oeuvre Grave de Robert Nanteuil. Paris, 1925. p. 243, #124, I. (Rarissime).
Museums and Libraries: The British Museum. 1864,1114.516.
Note: Last known sale was in 1998.