L'enlèvement de Déjanire par Nessus

Printmaking in woodcut and engraving came to Northern Italy within a few decades of their invention north of the Alps. Engraving probably came first to Florence in the 1440s, the goldsmith Maso Finiguerra (1426–64) used the technique. Italian engraving caught the very early Renaissance, 1460–1490. Print copying was a widely accepted practice, as well as copying of paintings viewed as images in their own right.

Gilles Rousselet was born in Paris in 1610 and became a prominent French engraver in the 17th century. He studied under the renowned engraver Robert Nanteuil and quickly gained recognition for his ability to create intricate and detailed engravings. Rousselet's work focused primarily on portraiture and he created engravings of many notable figures of his time, including Louis XIV, Cardinal Richelieu and Molière. His engravings were highly sought after and were often used in publications such as books, newspapers and magazines. In addition to his portrait work, Rousselet also created engravings of landscapes, historical scenes and religious subjects. He was known for his ability to capture the essence of a scene or subject in his engravings, bringing it to life with intricate detail and a sense of realism. Rousselet's work was highly influential in the world of engraving and he is considered one of the greatest French engravers of the 17th century. He died in Paris in 1686 at the age of 76, leaving behind a legacy of beautiful and highly skilled engravings.