Honoré Courtin 1668

Editor: So, this is Robert Nanteuil’s portrait of Honoré Courtin. What I find striking is how...contained the portrait is, yet Courtin's wig practically explodes out of the oval frame. What do you make of that contrast? Curator: It's like Courtin's ambition couldn't be contained by societal norms, yet he's very much a part of that world, isn't he? Nanteuil was a master of engraving, and he captured that era so perfectly. What do you think he's trying to tell us about this man? Editor: Perhaps that appearances can be deceiving? I initially thought it was just a stuffy portrait, but I'm seeing so much more. Curator: Exactly! Art can make us look deeper, to look beyond the surface. Always a good lesson, I think.