Portrait of Joseph-Hilarius Eckehel 1810 - 1820

This portrait of Joseph-Hilarius Eckhel was made by Antoine Louis François Sergent Marceau using pen and brown ink with gray wash over graphite. Eckhel is depicted examining a collection of coins in a cabinet. Above the cabinet, one can notice classical busts and vases. The act of collecting and categorizing, as shown here, is a ritualistic impulse. I'm reminded of Renaissance cabinets of curiosities—Wunderkammern—which were filled with diverse objects. These collections transcended mere accumulation, becoming microcosms of the world, reflecting humanity’s quest to understand and control the universe through symbolic representation. Consider also the coins themselves. Each bears an effigy, a symbol of power and history, linking the holder to distant realms and times. Like ancient talismans, coins carry the weight of cultural memory, resurfacing in different eras and contexts, from votive offerings to symbols of wealth. The act of handling them is a tangible connection to the past, a way to channel the spirit and knowledge of generations. This work encapsulates how we engage with objects as conduits of deeper meaning.