Portret van Armand-Jean du Plessis, hertog van Richelieu 1634

This etching by Dutch artist Hendrick Hondius I, completed in 1634, is a portrait of Armand-Jean du Plessis, the Duke of Richelieu. The artwork is a bust-length portrait of the Duke, depicted wearing a cardinal's hat and robes. Hondius skillfully captures the Duke's stern countenance and dignified bearing. The work was created in the Netherlands, where Hondius was a prominent portrait artist. It was commissioned by the Duke himself and highlights the importance of portraiture in conveying status and authority. The artwork is currently housed in the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.