Titelprent met draperie en wapenschild 1714

Editor: This is "Titelprent met draperie en wapenschild" made in 1714 by Nicolas de Larmessin I. It’s an engraving and strikes me as intensely ornate and formal, with all the flourishing and symmetrical elements. What jumps out at you when you look at this print? Curator: The title plate is positively swimming in the visual language of power, isn't it? Imagine, this wasn't just art for art's sake, darling. In those days, images were the influencers! Think of this as 18th-century book bling – meant to declare the contents were not some common drivel, but the *August* representations of the Kings of France! The fleur-de-lis held by cherubs, the laurel wreaths, the drapery... what story do you think it's trying to tell? Editor: It feels like pure propaganda. Maybe about the unending, divine right to rule? The repetition of royal symbols, like the fleur-de-lis, hammered the message home? Curator: Precisely! This wasn’t just decoration, love; it was branding. A way to visually codify the monarchy’s strength, its heritage, its very legitimacy, in an age before photography or easily distributed media. Did you catch that the inscription details an abridged history? This work speaks of enduring power. Editor: So it was about creating and controlling a narrative, even from the very first page? I see how the print functions as both art and historical declaration, cleverly intertwined. Curator: Absolutely, and with style, naturally! These details are often much more intriguing than the broader message. Editor: I definitely see this print in a different light now!