Portret van Michel de l'Hospital op 69-jarige leeftijd 1597 - 1599

This engraving portrays Michel de l'Hospital at the age of 69. Robert Boissard created this artwork to commemorate the life and status of this important figure. Michel de l’Hospital was a French statesman who advocated for religious tolerance during a time of intense conflict between Catholics and Protestants. As a member of the French court, his identity and beliefs were interwoven with the political and religious tensions of 16th-century France. Boissard captures de l’Hospital in a classical profile, a style often reserved for powerful men. He is portrayed as learned, wise, and authoritative through the symbolism of his garments and the text that frames the image. The inscription underlines his great importance to France. The print thus embodies the complex interplay between individual identity, religious conflict, and political power during the Reformation. It invites us to reflect on the role of identity in shaping historical narratives.