Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, vicomte de Turenne 1767

Curator: This is Antoine de Marcenay de Ghuy's portrait of Henri de la Tour d'Auvergne, vicomte de Turenne, housed here at the Harvard Art Museums. It's an engraving. Editor: The texture is wonderful. The way the light catches the armor and fabric is quite striking, especially given the medium. It feels opulent, even in monochrome. Curator: Indeed, Ghuy's print participates in a long tradition of heroic portraiture, designed to elevate Turenne's status through visual representation. Consider how the landscape background adds to the idealized image. Editor: What interests me is the labor involved in creating such detail through etching. The time spent incising those lines into the metal plate speaks volumes about the value placed on this image. Curator: Certainly, and the print’s accessibility meant wider circulation of Turenne’s image. Editor: It’s amazing how the properties of the materials and artistic skill translate into a lasting social and political statement. Curator: It gives one pause to consider the layers of context involved in such a small, yet powerful image. Editor: Absolutely. It is a testament to both the sitter and the maker.