A detailed seventeenth-century engraving by René Lochon, capturing the formal portrait of Louis de Nogaret de La Valette within an ornate, Baroque-style frame.

This engraving by René Lochon depicts Louis de Nogaret de La Valette, a prominent figure of the seventeenth-century French ecclesiastical and political sphere. Lochon, a skilled French engraver active during the mid-seventeenth century, demonstrates the technical precision characteristic of the period. The portrait is presented within a circular frame, a common convention for formal portraiture of the era, which is further embellished with decorative swags of fabric and fruit motifs. These elements provide a sense of theatricality and grandeur, typical of Baroque aesthetics.

The subject is rendered with careful attention to the textures of his clothing and the soft modelling of his features. The surrounding drapery, which appears to hang from a stone plinth, adds a layer of depth to the composition. Below the portrait, a cartouche bears the name of the sitter, Louis Cardinal de La Valette, alongside the date of his death. The use of cross-hatching and varied line weights allows Lochon to create subtle gradations of shadow, giving the figure a three-dimensional presence against the background.

Lochon was known for his ability to translate the nuances of painted portraits into the medium of engraving. This work reflects the formalised style of French portraiture, where the sitter is often framed by architectural or symbolic elements that denote status and authority. The inclusion of the coat of arms at the top of the composition reinforces the sitter's noble lineage. This print offers a glimpse into the visual culture of the French court, where such engravings were circulated to document the appearance of influential individuals. The clarity of the lines and the balanced arrangement of the decorative motifs demonstrate the high level of craftsmanship expected of professional engravers in Paris during this time.