Steekspeler en bediende te paard in Romeins kostuum 1670

François Chauveau made this print of a spearing game with etching in the 17th century. It is an allegory of courtly virtues in a time when monarchical power was becoming increasingly centralized. The print depicts two men on horseback in elaborate Roman costumes, with one holding a spear and the other carrying a decorative staff. It is no accident that Chauveau placed the figures in Roman garb, as he evokes the grandeur and authority of the Roman Empire, an association that would not have been lost on the French aristocracy. The banner above bears the inscription "Libertas Retinenda," emphasizing the concept of freedom, something that aristocratic power would ensure. Chauveau worked in Paris, a city marked by the increasing power of academies and royal patronage in the arts. One may learn about these networks of authority through archival research, period publications, and studies of the artist's patrons. All of these resources will help us better understand Chauveau's place within the cultural and political context of his time.