Guillaume Budé (1467–1540) 1531 - 1541

Jean Clouet painted this portrait of Guillaume Budé sometime in the 16th century. Budé was a humanist, a scholar of Greek, and a diplomat during the French Renaissance, a period marked by renewed interest in classical antiquity and a flourishing of the arts and sciences. Clouet captures Budé in the act of writing, a powerful assertion of his intellectual identity. The portrait is imbued with a sense of quiet dignity and intellectual prowess. But it also evokes a sense of the individual caught in a moment of contemplation. Budé's attire, the somber black robes and cap, speak to his status and profession, while the book and pen underscore his commitment to learning and knowledge. Clouet’s realistic portrayal provides us not only a glimpse into Budé's physical appearance but also into the cultural values and intellectual climate of the French Renaissance. The painting prompts us to consider how individuals like Budé contributed to shaping the intellectual landscape of their time, leaving a lasting legacy through their scholarship and writings.