Bidspirit auction | Antoine Masson after Nicolas Mignard

Antoine Masson after Nicolas Mignard Henri de Lorraine Comte d Harcourt Le Cadet a la Perle Engraving 1667 - This copperplate engraving by Antoine Masson is after a portrait painted by Nicolas Mignard. The subject is Henri de Lorraine, Comte d Harcourt (1601–1666), a prominent French military commander often referred to as Le Cadet a la Perle due to the prominent pearl earring visible in this depiction. The sitter is portrayed three-quarter length in an ornate cuirass and a lace-edged collar, clutching a commander's baton. A plumed helmet is positioned on a table to the left, while the background reveals a naval siege under a smoky sky. The engraving technique utilizes precise, systematic line work and swelling strokes to define the voluminous curls of the wig and the intricate embroidery of the armor. Inscriptions in the upper left corner of the plate read: N. MIGNARD AVENTIN PIN., ANT. MASSON SCVLP, and 1667. The lower margin features a four-line French verse praising the count's honor and a publication line stating: Ce vend a Paris chez Nicolas de Poilly rue Ste Jacques a la belle Image avec Privilege du Roy. The work is mounted in a carved gilt wood frame. Frame Height: 29.75 inches Frame Width: 24.5 inches. The paper sheet shows significant uniform toning and widespread foxing with dark age spots throughout the margins and the image area. There is noticeable rippling and cockling of the paper under the glass. The impression shows evidence of plate wear, particularly in the darker cross-hatched shadows. The gilt wood frame has several areas of gesso loss and chipping, notably at the corners and edges. The backing board displays extensive water staining in the upper corner, though it does not appear to have reached the front of the print.