Pierre de L'Angle, Bishop of Boulogne - Jacques Nicolas Tardieu

A formal eighteenth-century engraving of Pierre de L'Angle, Bishop of Boulogne, captured in a scholarly setting with fine attention to textile and architectural detail.

This engraving depicts Pierre de L'Angle, the Bishop of Boulogne, seated in a formal study. The composition follows the conventions of eighteenth-century ecclesiastical portraiture, presenting the subject in a moment of scholarly reflection. He is shown with a large open book, his hand resting upon the pages, while a quill and inkwell sit on a nearby desk. The background features a collection of bound volumes, reinforcing his identity as a man of letters and theological authority.

Jacques Nicolas Tardieu demonstrates technical precision in the rendering of textures. The heavy fabric of the bishop's vestments, the delicate lace at his cuffs, and the ornate carving of the chair are delineated with fine, controlled lines. The use of cross-hatching creates a sense of volume and depth, typical of the period's printmaking techniques. The drapery hanging above the subject adds a theatrical element to the scene, a common device in portraiture of the era to suggest status and interior grandeur.

At the base of the print, the inscription identifies the sitter and notes his death on 12 April 1724 at the age of eighty-one. The inclusion of a coat of arms further situates the subject within the social and religious hierarchy of the time. This work provides a clear example of the formal portrait style favoured by the French clergy during the early eighteenth century. The print captures the gravity and composure expected of a high-ranking church official, while the monochromatic palette allows the viewer to focus on the subtle variations in light and shadow across the subject's robes and the surrounding environment. It is a fine example of the engraver's craft, showing the ability to translate the qualities of a painted original into a durable, reproducible medium.