Charles-Emmanuel, Duc de Savoie 1668

Editor: So this is "Charles-Emmanuel, Duc de Savoie," a portrait made in 1668 by Robert Nanteuil. It's an engraving, a very detailed print. I'm immediately struck by how it blends the power of the sitter with, almost, a theatrical setting. What catches your eye? Curator: The theatricality you mention is key. It’s a performance of power, but also deeply embedded with symbolic language. Note the armor— a direct symbol of military strength, of course. But what about the framing elements: the mermaids, the arms and helmets, even the cherubic face? They are not mere decoration. Editor: So they are telling us something beyond "this guy is important"? What exactly are they saying? Curator: Precisely. The mermaids, for instance. Water, historically, represents the subconscious, the emotional realm. Are they supporting his reign, emerging from a sea of unconscious forces? And above, the coat of arms, framed by lions – symbols of courage and royalty, echoing the Duke’s lineage and assumed inherent qualities. Editor: That’s fascinating, I didn’t pick up on that. It’s like a carefully constructed stage set with specific props. Curator: Exactly. Every element contributes to constructing his identity, playing upon historical associations and collective cultural understanding of these symbols. Think of how the inscription also reinforces this ideal image. It all merges together, history, symbolism, and performance of power in a Baroque idiom. Editor: I see how Nanteuil uses these symbols to tell a broader story about Charles-Emmanuel and his place in the world, kind of an orchestrated visual memory. It gives you a deeper sense of what his image was meant to convey. Curator: Precisely. These images shape cultural memory and historical understanding, often subtly reinforcing established hierarchies and values, but also presenting ideal characters and their symbolic worlds.