François de La Mothe le Vayer 1775

Curator: This is Étienne Ficquet's engraving of François de La Mothe le Vayer, currently residing in the Harvard Art Museums. Editor: There is a striking formality to the portrait, immediately conveyed through the symmetry of its layout. Curator: Indeed. Ficquet's rendering places La Mothe le Vayer within an oval frame, draped with fabric and foliage, and surrounded by symbols of learning. Editor: Note the books, the globe, the inkwell and quill, but also the hourglass. What sense can we make of their juxtaposition? Curator: These carefully chosen symbolic items speak to La Mothe le Vayer’s standing as a prominent writer and philosopher within his historical context. Editor: The composition feels deliberately staged to project authority, framing La Mothe le Vayer as an intellectual luminary, his gaze direct yet composed. Curator: It serves as a potent reminder of the enduring power of visual representations in shaping historical narratives. Editor: I find the starkness of the engraving almost haunting.