Portret van Bernard de Fontenelle, met personificaties van de zeven vrije kunsten 1727

This 1727 engraving by Bernard Picart depicts a portrait of Bernard de Fontenelle, a renowned French writer and philosopher, surrounded by personifications of the seven liberal arts. The artwork, currently housed in the Rijksmuseum, showcases a complex composition where the central portrait of Fontenelle is framed by cherubs and enveloped by a swirling, baroque-inspired border. The surrounding figures, each representing an art – such as Painting, Music, and Astronomy – are arranged in a semi-circular formation, evoking a sense of scholarly reverence and homage to Fontenelle’s intellectual pursuits.