17th Century French Engraved Portrait of Cardinal Guillaume Fillastre in Period Gilt Frame, 12 x 9.75 in.

This is a beautifully early French engraved portrait of Cardinal Guillaume Fillastre, dating likely to the late 17th or early 18th century, and what I especially love is that it retains this wonderfully textured period gilt frame with black liner, which gives the whole piece tremendous presence. The engraving itself has beautiful precision and that wonderful crisp line work you want to see in earlier pulls. Pieces like this have such a scholarly, collected feel and layer beautifully into a gallery wall, library, or among other devotional and architectural works.