Nicolas Coustou 1730

This 1730 engraving by Charles Dupuis is a portrait of Nicolas Coustou, a prominent French sculptor of the Baroque period. The image depicts Coustou in a formal pose, holding a chisel and hammer, with a bust of a woman in the foreground. The inscription below the image identifies Coustou as "Sculptor Ordinaire du Roy" (Sculptor to the King) and "Recteur en son académie Royale" (Rector of the Royal Academy). This engraving exemplifies the portraiture prevalent in the Baroque era, often depicting individuals in their professional capacity, reflecting the cultural values of the time.