Portrait of René de Laudonnière Sablais (de Burdigale) 1861

This is Charles Meryon’s etching of René de Laudonnière, made in 19th-century France, but depicting a figure from the 16th century. Meryon revives Laudonnière, a key figure in early French efforts to colonize Florida. The print is a window into French national identity and its entanglement with colonial history. Laudonnière is framed by symbols of prosperity and exploration, the grapes and tools perhaps alluding to the promise of the New World, yet this idealized image obscures the violence inherent in colonization. Meryon was deeply interested in the past and in the way national myths are constructed. His work invites us to consider how historical figures are used to legitimize certain political agendas. By examining archives, historical texts, and even popular imagery, we can better understand how the past is mobilized in the present.