Portrait of Cardinal Giacomo Rospigliosi
Print on paper, framed under glass • Engraved by Robert Nanteuil (French, 1623–1678), after a painting by Carlo Maratta (Italian, 1625–1713).
Style & Movement
Baroque
Medium & Technique
Engraving and etching. The work utilizes fine hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling to achieve sculptural depth and tonal transitions characteristic of 17th-century European printmaking.
Creation Period
1668-1669
Dimensions & Format
Approximately 50 x 40 cm (plate mark); Portrait orientation
Subject Description
A three-quarter length portrait of Cardinal Giacomo Rospigliosi (1628–1684) set within a Trompe-l'œil oval frame draped with heavy fabric. The sitter wears ecclesiastical robes and a biretta, holding a book, symbolizing his scholarly and clerical status. At the base of the frame is the Rospigliosi family coat of arms flanked by cornucopias and symbolic items (the caduceus and trumpets).
Condition & Value Assessment
Condition Assessment
Good to Very Good. The print appears well-preserved with sharp impressions, though there is visible toning and minor undulation of the paper support.
Estimated Market Value
$800 - $1,500 USD
Auction Estimate
$600 - $1,200 USD
Provenance History
Likely part of a private collection given the contemporary domestic frame; Nanteuil was a royal engraver to Louis XIV, and his prints were widely collected by European nobility and high clergy.
Art Historical Significance
Robert Nanteuil was the preeminent portrait engraver of the French Baroque, known for his technical precision and 'ad vivum' (from life) portraits. This collaboration between the Italian master Maratta and the French master Nanteuil represents a high-point of Baroque international artistic exchange.
Notable Features
Includes the Latin inscription 'IACOBVS S.R.E. PRESBYTER CARDINALIS ROSPIGLIOSIVS' around the oval border. The lower margin contains the artists' credits: 'Carolus Marattus Pinxit' (left) and 'Robertus Nanteuil sculpsit 1669' (right).
Condition Issues
Evident yellowing (toning) consistent with age and exposure to non-archival mounting materials. Potential light foxing and minor acid burn along the edges where the paper meets the frame.
Conservation Recommendations
Unframing to check for acidic backing; remounting using acid-free, museum-grade mats and UV-protective glass. Professional cleaning (deacidification) by a paper conservator could brighten the sheet.