Jean Baptiste Lully 1695

Curator: Oh, the hair! It’s as if his very thoughts have taken on a life of their own, coiling and swirling like musical notes in the air. Editor: This is Gérard Edelinck's portrait of Jean Baptiste Lully, currently housed in the Harvard Art Museums. It's a fascinating example of how power and artistry were visually intertwined. Curator: Power, yes, but also a certain… theatricality. The way the light catches the lace at his throat, the almost arrogant tilt of his chin. He knew he was someone special. Editor: Indeed, Lully was the superintendent of music to the King! Edelinck’s rendering elevates Lully’s status through the strategic deployment of imagery, like the heraldic emblem. Curator: It’s a study in contrasts, isn’t it? The formality of the setting versus the almost wild abandon of his hair. It hints at a restless spirit, a mind that simply couldn't be contained by courtly conventions. Editor: Absolutely. And Edelinck, with his skill, helped to solidify Lully's image for posterity, embedding him within the narrative of artistic and political power. Curator: So, here's to Lully, then: may our own hair be as gloriously unruly as his. Editor: And to the artists who helped construct and propagate the images of those in power.