Portret van Héloïse d'Argenteuil 1834

Henri Grevedon created this lithograph portrait of Héloïse d'Argenteuil in France sometime between 1816 and 1860. It shows her in a nun's habit with a sombre expression. Héloïse was a 12th-century French philosopher, writer, and abbess. She's best known for her tragic love affair with Peter Abelard, her teacher. This print was made during the Bourbon Restoration, a period that saw the Catholic Church regain some of its pre-revolutionary influence. Images of religious figures became popular, reinforcing traditional values. However, there was also a fascination with historical figures, and Héloïse was a prominent figure due to her connection to intellectuality and illicit love. By studying prints like these, alongside historical documents and biographies, we gain a better understanding of the social and institutional forces at play in 19th-century France. We see how historical figures were reinterpreted and used to promote certain ideologies, and we learn about the changing role of the Church in post-revolutionary society.