Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac

probably 1637

Claude Mellan

Associated Names
Claude Mellan

Artist, French, 1598 - 1688

The image shows a man with well-defined facial features, including deep-set eyes, a straight nose, and a full dark mustache paired with a small goatee. He has curly medium-length hair, wearing a white shirt with a high collar under a dark coat or cloak. The background appears plain with a light texture resembling paper or parchment. There is text above and below the portrait, with the name "LVDOVICVS BALZACIVS ANN. ÆT 40" at the top and additional wording below the man's likeness.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    engraving on laid paper

  • Credit Line

    Gift of John O'Brien

  • Dimensions

    plate: 18.4 x 11.7 cm (7 1/4 x 4 5/8 in.)
    sheet: 23.5 x 15.6 cm (9 1/4 x 6 1/8 in.)

  • Accession Number

    1991.164.18

  • Catalogue Raisonné

    Montaiglon 1856, no. 165, State ii/iii

Artwork history & notes

Bibliography

1856

  • Montaiglon, Anatole de. Catalogue raisonne de l'oeuvre de Claude Mellan d'Abbeville. Abbeville: P.Briex, 1856.

1988

  • Préaud, Maxime. Inventaire du fonds français: Graveurs du XVIIe siècle, vol. 17 (Claude Mellan). Paris: Bibliothèque nationale, 1988, no. 140, state i/iii.

Inscriptions

across top in plate: ILVDOVICVS BALZACIVS ANN. AET. 40; across bottom in plate: Facunda nullus ora Gallicae Pythus / Potis est referre pictor, et color nullus, / Imago vt extet ver a, quem vides, ipse / Sibi sit Apelles vnus, vnicae Suadae.; lLp//: CM; lRp//: N.BORB.: BY LATER HAND , lLv//in graphite: 65530

Wikidata ID

Q74895343

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