The Quiet Presence of Nicolas Labbé In the mid-seventeenth century, the brush of Nicolas Labbé moved through the religious landscapes of France. Born in Besançon, his life followed a path that led him toward the spiritual subjects that defined his era. He worked with oil on canvas, a medium that allowed for a steady, deliberate application of color. His hands were occupied with the textures of cloth and the soft light of sacred scenes,…