Emmanuel-Théodose De La Tour D'auvergne, Cardinal De Bouillon 

Giovanni Battista Gaulli painted this portrait of Emmanuel-Théodose De La Tour D'auvergne, Cardinal De Bouillon, using oil. The portrait is striking for its deep contrasts and the textures conveyed through layered brushwork. Notice the interplay between the dark background and the Cardinal’s vibrant robes, which draws the eye to the subject's pale face and delicate hands. Gaulli masterfully uses the formal elements of Baroque painting to create an image that speaks to both power and vulnerability. The deep reds and golds of the Cardinal's garments, combined with the heavy drapery behind him, create a sense of opulence and authority. Yet, the softness of his expression and the loose, flowing brushstrokes used to depict his hair and lace cuffs hint at a more complex, perhaps even troubled, inner life. This tension reflects the Baroque era’s own struggles with reconciling religious authority and human emotion. The artist uses the Cardinal’s figure as a signifier, playing with the semiotic weight of color and texture to challenge fixed notions of power and spirituality.