Original 19th-Century Steel-Engraved Portrait of the French Aristocrat and Governor of Odessa, Armand-Emmanuel du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu (1766–1822)

Item #1602

Engraving after a drawing by Hippolyte Pauquet (“Pauquet del.”), engraved by Bertier (“Bertier sc.”). Depicts Armand-Emmanuel du Plessis, Duke of Richelieu, one of the most influential administrators in the history of southern Ukraine and the city of Odessa. Sheet size approximately 24.5 × 17.5 cm. Very good with light age toning and minor wear. Blank verso.

Armand-Emmanuel du Plessis, better known as the Duke of Richelieu, was a French aristocrat who entered Russian service after the French Revolution and served as Governor of Odessa and Governor-General of New Russia from 1803 to 1814. During his administration, Odessa was transformed from a young frontier settlement into one of the Russian Empire’s most important commercial ports. Richelieu oversaw the expansion of the harbor, encouraged international trade and immigration, improved municipal administration, and laid the foundations for the city’s rapid economic growth. His legacy remains deeply embedded in Odessa’s identity; the famous bronze monument to the Duke of Richelieu, erected in 1828 atop the Potemkin Stairs, remains one of the city's best-known landmarks and enduring symbols.

Price: $100.00