Portrait of Nicolas Poussin

Portrait of French painter Nicolas Poussin, after the artist's self-portrait; half-length, turned to left, with pencil holder in right hand and left hand resting on book; in the background, two putti carrying a garland, standing on each side of a stele.

Etching, 1650 circa, lettered with dedication to Mr. de Cerisier by Jean Pesne, and inscription in Latin.

After a self-portrait painting executed in 1649 in Rome, and now at the Staatliche Museen, Berlin.

Jean Pesne, born 1625, died 1700, was a French engraver. He was the uncle of Antoine Pesne. Pesne performed including engravings after paintings by Nicolas Poussin, Anthony van Dyck, and Ludovico, Agostino and Annibale Carracci. Pesne was an admirer of Poussin and reproduced many of his works. He also did reproductions of two Poussin self-portraits from 1649 (Staatliche Museen, Berlin) and 1650 (Louvre Museum, Paris). In the older self-portrait presented in this engraving, Poussin portrayed himself in the spirit of mementum mori in front a tombstone on which his status and age (55 years) are engraved. The self-portrait suggests the introspective nature of the well-educated painter who paid great attention to art theory.

A very good impression, printed on contemporary laid paper, with thin margins, good condition.

Bibliografia

Robert-Dumesnil 1835-71, Le Peintre-Graveur Français (III.119.6.I); Andresen 1863, Nicolaus Poussin - Verzeichniss der nach seinen Gemälden Gefertigten... (p. 5, 1, state I); Wildenstein 1955, Les Graveurs de Poussin au XVIIe siècle (1.I).