Henri-Auguste, Comte de Brienne 1660

Curator: This is Robert Nanteuil's portrait of Henri-Auguste, Comte de Brienne. Editor: He looks like he's perpetually on the verge of telling a secret, doesn’t he? All sly eyes and a hint of a smirk, framed by that elaborate wreath. Curator: Indeed. Nanteuil was a master of engraving, capturing not just likeness but also the social standing of his sitters. Note the heraldry, the finery, and consider Brienne’s role in Louis XIV’s court. Editor: It's a celebration of power, isn't it? That wreath almost feels suffocating, like the weight of expectation is pressing in on him. Curator: Perhaps. Or it signifies triumph and legacy, framing him for posterity. It’s all about controlling the narrative, isn’t it? Editor: I like to imagine what stories that face could tell, beyond the official version. Curator: Precisely. It's where the power structures of the era and individual experience collide.