Charles Benoise 1651

Robert Nanteuil created this engraving of Charles Benoise, a counselor to the King of France, sometime in the mid-17th century. At this time, printmaking was becoming more established, and portrait prints were a popular way to disseminate images of important people. This portrait is framed by an oval, suggesting its circulation as an independent object, while the engraving technique lends itself to the precise rendering of textures and details, emphasizing Benoise's social status through his clothing. The inclusion of a coat-of-arms connects him to a family lineage. France in the 17th century was characterized by a rigid social hierarchy. Looking closely at an image like this and researching the institutions and the people it represents helps us to understand the mechanics of status in that society. What was Benoise’s role in the court? What was his relationship to the King? These are the questions we might ask to situate this image in its social context.