François Théodore de Nesmond c. 17th century

Editor: So, here we have Claude Mellan's portrait of François Théodore de Nesmond. I find the starkness of the lines against the soft fur very striking! What do you notice first? Curator: The way the light seems to dance across his face, even with such minimalist lines, it feels so intimate. Consider the period, the stoic portraits…and here is Mellan daring to be…vulnerable? Does that resonate with you? Editor: Yes! It really does. It’s so different than what I would expect from that period. Thanks for pointing that out! Curator: Of course! It’s the quiet rebellions, the soft whispers that carry the most truth sometimes. Makes you wonder about Nesmond himself, doesn’t it? Editor: It definitely does, I think I have something new to look for in portraits now.