Albert Clouwet’s engraving, “Portrait of Nicolas Poussin”, 1672

Albert Clouwet (aka Albertus Clouwet; Aubertus Clouvet; Albert Clouet; Albert Clovet; Albert Clowet; Albert Cluet; Albert Clou) (1636–1679)

“Portrait of Nicolas Poussin”, 1672, illustration to page 405 of Giovanni Pietro Bellori’s, "Le vite de' pittori, scvltori et architetti moderni" (The lives of the modern painters, sculptors and architects), published in Rome in 1672 (N.B. archive.org offers this publication for online viewing or free-of-charge downloading: https://archive.org/details/levitedepittoris00bell/page/404), after the self-portrait painting executed in 1650 by Nicholas Poussin (1594–1665) for Paul Fréart de Chantelou (1609–1694) and now in the collection of the Musée du Louvre (INV. 7302). This impression is from the 1756 edition published by Michel Odieuvre (1687–1756) in Paris.

Engraving on laid paper backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 22.9 x 14.9 cm; (plate) 15.6 x 12.1 cm.

Lettered on plate: (upper left) “NICOLAS/ Né à Andely en I594.”; (upper right) “POUSSIN Peintre/ Mort à Rome en 1672.” (N.B. Poussin’s inscribed date of death is incorrect); (right of centre) “NICOLO/ PVSSINO”; (on the side of the book/folio) “DE. LVM. ET. VMB.”; (lower right corner) “A Clou/ sculp”; (below image at centre) “Odieuvre ex. C.P.R.”

Hollstein Dutch 6 (FWH Hollstein 1951, “Dutch and Flemish Etchings, Engravings and Woodcuts ca. 1450–1700: Brun – Coques”, vol. 4. Amsterdam, Menno Hertzberger, p. 173, cat. no. 6).

The British Museum offers the following description of this print from the 1672 edition before the additional lettering of the 1756 edition:

“Portrait of Nicolas Poussin, after the artist's self-portrait; half-length, directed to right, with head turned to look to front, his right hand resting on a portfolio; festoons hanging in the background”

(https://research.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=3690138&partId=1&searchText=Portrait+of+Nicolas+Poussin&page=1)

See also the description offered by the Rijksmuseum:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.collect.96064

See also the description offered by the Ministère de la Culture:

https://www.pop.culture.gouv.fr/notice/joconde/05120011288

Condition: well-printed strong impression showing no sign of wear to the printing plate with margins and laid onto a support of archival (millennium quality) washi paper. Beyond slight darkening to the upper left corner and a few dots of foxing, the sheet is in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, losses, abrasions, or significant stains).

I am selling this exceptionally fine engraving after Poussin’s self-portrait executed only seven years after Poussin died, for AU$214 in total (currently US$148.83/EUR133.38/GBP113.66 at the time of this listing) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in acquiring this very beautiful engraving—note the artist’s remarkably ability to suggest with a subtle adjustments of white and black lines in the rendering of Poussin’s slightly unwashed and dishevelled hair that the great master’s mane of tousled locks was brown rather than black or blonde while still shaping the form of the hair with light and shade—please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.

This print has been sold