Portret van François Michel le Tellier 1691

This is Jacob Gole's engraving of François Michel le Tellier, a work imbued with symbols that speak volumes about its subject and era. Notice the fleur-de-lis emblazoned on his garment, a long-standing emblem of French royalty, here signifying power and divine right. Yet, this symbol is juxtaposed with Le Tellier's unflattering, almost grotesque depiction. The smirk and exaggerated features, traits reminiscent of satirical prints, suggest a critical commentary on the figure's authority. Consider how the fleur-de-lis has morphed through time, adorning royal banners, religious icons, and even modern logos. Its persistent recurrence underscores a deep-seated human need for symbols of identity and power. This image, with its complex interplay of royalist symbols and unflattering portraiture, evokes a sense of tension, perhaps mirroring the turbulent socio-political climate of its time. The emotional charge of such symbols ensures their continuous resurgence, constantly reshaped by history's relentless currents.