Melchior de Gillier 1652

Editor: This is Robert Nanteuil's portrait of Melchior de Gillier. I'm drawn to the meticulous detail in the engraving. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Notice the labor involved in creating this print. Consider the social context: who was Gillier, and what status did Nanteuil gain by depicting him? How does this image function within systems of patronage and craft production? Editor: So, it's not just a portrait, but also a record of social and economic relationships. Thanks! Curator: Precisely. By focusing on the means of its making, we see how deeply art is embedded in the material conditions of its time.