Pierre Armand du Cambout de Coslin, évêque d'Orléans 1655

Grégoire Huret made this engraving of Pierre Armand du Cambout de Coslin, Bishop of Orléans, in the 17th century. It captures a man who was part of the fabric of religious and political power in France during a time of significant social stratification. Consider how identity is performed through clothing and symbols of status; du Cambout de Coslin’s garments and coat of arms root him firmly within the French aristocracy and Catholic Church. Huret, as the engraver, played a critical role in disseminating images of the elite, constructing and reinforcing social hierarchies through representation. What does it mean to have your likeness captured and circulated? This image serves not just as a portrait but as an artifact of power, class, and representation in 17th-century France, reminding us of the complex interplay between identity, representation, and social structure.