Étienne d’Aligre was French Ambassador to Venice and was also made Director of Finance, a senior member of the Council of State, and Minister of Justice in 1672. Two years later he was made Chancellor of France and held this position until his death in 1677. In this half-length oval portrait, he sits facing to the right, wearing a black jacket with red neckbands and cuffs and a black cap. The portrait is derived from a half-length seated portrait by Pierre Mignard at Versailles (MV 4188). This original portrait was recorded in an engraving and has an inscription ‘P. Mignard Pinxit 1673’.