Eminentissimus Julius Cardinalis Mazarinis &c. Octagonal bust-length portrait of Cardinal Mazarin. Jules Cardinal Mazarin, Duke of Mayenne, Rethel and Nevers (1602-1661), born Giulio Raimondo Mazzarino, was an Italian Catholic prelate, diplomat and politician who served as the chief minister to the Kings of France Louis XIII and Louis XIV from 1642 to his death. Etching and stipple work on hand laid paper, sheet size 294 x 237 mm. Etching by Jean Morin after Philippe de Champaigne, c. 1640-1650. Jean Morin (c.1595 or 1605 - 1650) was a French baroque painter, printmaker, etcher, engraver and publisher. He is mainly remembered as a printmaker, whose innovation in combining engraving with etching on the same plate became extremely common. Philippe de Champaigne (1602-1674) was a Brabançon-born French Baroque painter, and an exponent of the French School. In fair condition, cropped within platemark. A small rust spot just right of the nose, dampstained in the lower left quadrant, general soiling in the edges, a small hole (closed with acid-free archival tape on the verso) in the lower right corner. Remains of mounting and some paper remains to the verso. References: Hornibrook & Petitjean ('Catalogue of the engraved portraits by Jean Morin'), p. 40-41: 33; Mazel & Prouté ('Catalogue raisonné de l'oeuvre gravé de Jean Morin'), p. 233-237: 80-2; Robert-Dumesnil vol. 2, p. 61: 68.