Nicolas Fouquet, marquis de Belle-Île, vicomte de Melun et Vaux was the Superintendent of Finances in France from 1653 until 1661 under King Louis XIV. He had a glittering career, and acquired enormous wealth. He fell out of favor, accused of peculation and lèse-majesté. The king had him imprisoned from 1661 until his death in 1680.
Portrait by Charles Le Brun
Portrait of Marie-Madeleine de Castille the Spouse of Nicolas Fouquet.
Cardinal Mazarin
Rhythmic massing of the entrance front of Vaux-le-Vicomte
Superintendent of Finances
The Superintendent of Finances was the name of the minister in charge of finances in France from 1561 to 1661. The position was abolished in 1661 with the downfall of Nicolas Fouquet, and a new position was created, the Controller-General of Finances.
Henri de Schomberg (1575–1632) was Superintendent of Finances from 1619 to 1622.