1875 Woodcut Nicholas Fouquet Portrait 17th Century Superintendent Finances XEA6

This is an original 1875 black and white woodcut of the shifty-eyed Nicholas Fouquet, Superintendent of Finances in France during the reign of King Louis XIV. The monarch must not have enjoyed his company or his work very much because Fouquet spent the last couple of decades of his life wasting away in prison. French writer Alexandre Dumas included him as a crucial character in The Vicomte de Bragelonne, in which he foils a plot to save Louis XIV's life. If only real life had been so kind.

CONDITION

This 136+ year old Item is rated Near Mint / Very Fine. Light aging throughout. No creases. No natural defects.No surface rub.No tears. No water damage. Please note that there is a partial blind emboss mark in the upper left corner.

• Product Type: Original Woodcut; Black / White
• Grade: Near Mint / Very Fine
• Dimensions: Approximately 4 x 4 inches; 10 x 10 cm
• Authentication: Serial-Numbered Certificate of Authenticity w/ Full Provenance
• Protection: Packaged in a custom archival sleeve with an acid-free black board (great for display, gift-giving, and preservation)

This image was selected from a collection of woodcuts and steel engravings prolifically depicting scenes from French history, ranging from ancient Gaul to Charlemagne and his wars, to Joan of Arc and Marie Antoinette. Historically important for French archivists, these images are extremely rare to locate and are virtually unseen individually. Period Paper is pleased to present these beautifully preserved images, which would make an ideal addition to any French lover's collection. To view more images from this portfolio, please click on the link offered below the condition paragraph.

Keywords specific to this image: aristocrat, courtier, nobility

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