Francois Etienne de Lorraine 1775 - 1800

This oval portrait of Francois Etienne de Lorraine was made by an anonymous artist, using paint on copper. The fashion and accoutrements depicted here, like the gold lettering, are visual shorthands for power and status in 17th or 18th century Europe. The elaborate wig, the glinting metal, the medal or order of chivalry, all would have spoken clearly to contemporaries about the prestige and wealth of the person represented. But the black background and the lack of any setting might suggest that the painting is not necessarily about a specific individual. Instead, it speaks more broadly of the idea of nobility. If we want to know more about the image, we could consult sources such as period etiquette manuals, heraldry books, and of course, histories of the noble families in question. All can tell us about the social meanings that would have been attached to the imagery. Ultimately, artworks like this one give us ways to ask questions about the values of a bygone age.