Portret van Charles-Pierre Coustou 1776

Bénédict Alphonse Nicolet created this portrait of Charles-Pierre Coustou, an "archive du roy," an archivist of the king, in monochrome print. Framed within an oval cartouche and crowned with laurels, this image speaks to the visual language of power. Laurels, symbols of triumph since ancient Greece, reappear throughout history. We see them adorning Roman emperors, Renaissance poets, and now, a royal archivist. This act of framing, the very act of memorializing Coustou within a laurel-crowned cartouche, elevates him. It invokes a collective memory of heroes and victors, subtly associating him with their enduring legacy. This isn't merely a portrait, but a calculated attempt to immortalize, to harness the psychological power of inherited symbols. These are emblems passed down through the ages, evolving, adapting, and perpetually resurfacing to shape our perceptions and emotions.