A Portraitist of the Sun King’s Court: The Life and Art of Henri Testelin Henri Testelin, born in Paris in 1616, emerged as a significant figure within the vibrant artistic landscape of 17th-century France. Though details surrounding his earliest training remain somewhat elusive, it is clear that he quickly developed a profound fascination with portraiture—a genre that would define his career and secure his place among the favored artists of Louis XIV’s court. He was born into an artistic family; his father, Gilles Testelin, served as painter to Louis XIII, and his brother, Louis Testelin,…