Portret van Charles-Philibert de Lasteyrie 1816

Baron Dominique Vivant Denon created this portrait of Charles-Philibert de Lasteyrie using graphite. The profile view is a deliberate choice, echoing the ancient Roman tradition of portraiture on coins and busts, which emphasized nobility and character through the clean lines of the face. This approach allows for a focus on the subject’s physiognomy, suggesting a reading of character through his features. The gaze forward implies a sense of purpose and forward-thinking. This pose is a recurring motif throughout history, seen in Renaissance medals and Neoclassical sculptures, each time invoking a sense of classical virtue and intellectual rigor. It's fascinating how such a simple choice in presentation carries so much historical and cultural weight, continually reappearing to evoke similar ideas of leadership and integrity. The use of line and form speaks to a deeper, subconscious connection we have with historical archetypes.