He was born in Reims in 1623, the son of Lancelot Nanteuil, a wool merchant of
Reims. He studied philosophy in his native Reims but was already an engraver by the time he defended his thesis in 1645. He studied engraving under his brother-in-law,
Nicolas Regnesson, whose sister he married in 1646. In 1647 he moved to Paris. His style of drawing was influenced by the painter
Philippe de Champaigne, and his engraving, by
Claude Mellan and
Jean Morin. His crayon drawings and engraved portraits having attracted attention, by 1652 his work was in high demand. It was mainly due to his influence that the king granted the edict of 1660, dated from
Saint-Jean-de-Luz, by which engraving was pronounced free and distinct from the mechanical arts, and its practitioners were declared entitled to the privileges of other artists. Nanteuil's clientele included the Sun King himself,
Cardinal Richelieu, Queen
Christina of Sweden and many other high-ranking aristocrats and personages of note. Among the finest works of his fully developed period may be named the portraits of
Pompone de Bellièvre,
Gilles Ménage,
Louis, Grand Condé,
Jean Loret, the
Duc de La Meilleraye and the
Duchesse de Nemours. He died at Paris on 9 December 1678. ==Work==