Jacques Roettiers was from a well-known family of artists and he was one of the foremost goldsmiths of his time. He originally trained as a medal engraver, which we are reminded of in this portrait by Louis-Michel van Loo. In one hand he holds what was probably a model for a medal, a portrait in wax, and in his other hand a modelling tool. At the time when Van Loo painted this portrait, Roettiers was working on a silver dinner service in exquisite Rococo style for the Earl of Berkeley.