Portrait of Jacques Lemercier (1585-1654), Lemercier's Sorbonne in the background

This portrait of architect Jacques Lemercier, with his masterwork the Sorbonne visible in the background, was painted by Philippe de Champaigne around 1644. Lemercier was one of the most important French architects of the seventeenth century, responsible for major buildings including the Sorbonne chapel and the Palais-Royal, both commissioned by Cardinal Richelieu. Characteristic of Champaigne's approach, the work displays austere psychological realism, muted palette, Jansenist spiritual gravity.

The austere composition and sober palette are characteristic of Champaigne's mature portrait style, with the architectural backdrop rendered with precision that reflects the sitter's profession.