A refined 1762 portrait engraving of Marie Joseph Savalète de Buchelay by Augustin de Saint-Aubin, after a design by Charles-Nicolas Cochin.

This portrait of Marie Joseph Savalète de Buchelay is a fine example of eighteenth-century French printmaking. Executed by Augustin de Saint-Aubin in 1762, the work is based on a drawing by Charles-Nicolas Cochin. The composition follows the tradition of the medallion portrait, a format popularised during the Enlightenment for its clarity and focus on the sitter's profile.

Saint-Aubin employs precise etching and engraving techniques to render the subject. The profile view captures the sitter with a sense of formal dignity, typical of the period's aristocratic portraiture. The use of hatching and cross-hatching creates subtle gradations of tone, defining the contours of the face and the texture of the powdered wig. The medallion is surmounted by a decorative ribbon, a common motif in French prints of the era, which adds a touch of lightness to the otherwise austere presentation. Below the portrait, the sitter's name is inscribed in clear, formal lettering, identifying the subject as Marie Joseph Savalète de Buchelay.

Augustin de Saint-Aubin was a member of a prominent family of engravers and designers. His work is noted for its technical proficiency and its ability to capture the refined aesthetic of the French court. This print reflects the collaborative nature of eighteenth-century art production, where the roles of the draughtsman and the engraver were often distinct. The collaboration between Cochin and Saint-Aubin results in a balanced image that prioritises anatomical accuracy and decorative elegance. This print is a representative piece for collectors interested in the history of European portraiture and the technical evolution of intaglio printing during the mid-eighteenth century.