Portret van Abel François Poisson, marquis de Marigny 1761

Johann Georg Wille created this portrait of Abel François Poisson, marquis de Marigny, using engraving, a medium that allowed for the wide distribution of images in the 18th century. Marigny was the Director-General of Royal Buildings, Gardens, Arts and Manufactures under his sister, Madame de Pompadour, mistress of Louis XV. This print serves as a record of his status and influence within the French court. The architecture and draped curtain in the background, along with Marigny's opulent clothing, indicate his wealth and power. This image is less about personal likeness and more about conveying social standing. Wille, as an artist, was thus employed to reinforce the visual codes of aristocracy. Historical records, such as letters, financial accounts, and inventories, can further illuminate Marigny's role in the art world and the social conditions that shaped the production and consumption of art in 18th-century France. The meaning of this portrait isn't fixed; it shifts as we uncover more about its historical context.