Jean Baptiste Lully c. 17th century

Editor: Here we see a portrait of Jean Baptiste Lully, created by Jean Louis Roullet. What strikes me is how the image is framed by text and symbolic objects. How do you interpret this work? Curator: The framing acts as a cultural memory device. Notice the lyre. It anchors Lully's identity to music and poetry, recalling the ancient Greek tradition of the Orpheus myth and courtly entertainment. What emotions does the lyre evoke for you? Editor: It makes me think of harmony and artistic skill, but also perhaps a lost, idealized past. Curator: Precisely. The portrait doesn't just present Lully as an individual; it connects him to a broader historical and cultural narrative, almost elevating him to a modern-day Orpheus figure. Editor: That's fascinating; I hadn't considered the Orpheus connection. It makes the portrait feel less like a simple depiction and more like a cultural statement.