Gezicht op de Tour de Nelle en het Louvre 1631 - 1691

This etching, "View of the Tour de Nesle and the Louvre Gallery," was made by Israel Silvestre, sometime in the mid-17th century. It depicts the Seine in Paris, with the medieval Tour de Nesle on the left and the Louvre Palace to the right. This image speaks to the rise of printmaking as a means of documenting and disseminating views of important landmarks, creating a shared visual culture. Silvestre was among a generation of artists who catered to a growing market for such images, both within France and abroad. The depiction of the Louvre as a symbol of royal power reflects the social conditions of the time, where the monarchy sought to project an image of grandeur and authority through architecture and art. To fully understand the social and institutional context of this print, we might consult period maps and architectural plans of Paris, as well as archival records of royal commissions and artistic patronage. Through such research, we can gain a richer understanding of the role of art in shaping perceptions of power and place in early modern France.