Necker in de 'Temple de Mémoire', ca. 1781-1788 1781 - 1788

This anonymous 18th-century engraving depicts Jacques Necker, a French statesman and financier, in the "Temple of Memory". It features a winged figure soaring towards a temple while a snake slithers up Necker's arm, symbolizing his rise to fame and his eventual downfall. The image also shows a group of figures, possibly representing the French people, mourning the loss of Necker's power. The engraving, now part of the Rijksmuseum collection, offers a visual commentary on the political and social landscape of France during this tumultuous period.