Portret van Armand-Gaston-Maximilien de Rohan op 37-jarige leeftijd 1712

Pierre Drevet created this print of Armand-Gaston-Maximilien de Rohan in the 1700s. The portrait offers insight into the hierarchical structures of the French aristocracy and the Catholic Church. Consider the power dynamics inherent in representing a high-ranking clergyman. Rohan, at 37, is adorned in what looks like a full, fur coat. How might the choice of costume and the overall composition reinforce his authority and status? Rohan, a member of a prominent noble family, embodies the intersection of religious and aristocratic power. The print, with its precise lines and attention to detail, serves as a formal declaration of Rohan's identity, carefully constructed and presented for public consumption. As you stand here, reflect on how portraits like these were instrumental in shaping perceptions and preserving the legacies of influential figures during the Enlightenment era.