Nicolas Delaunay 1719

Curator: This is a portrait of Nicolas Delaunay by François Chereau the elder, currently held in the Harvard Art Museums. It is rendered in ink on laid paper. Editor: My first impression? Drama! The textures are so rich, from the wig to the velvet robe. It feels incredibly theatrical, like he's about to deliver a monologue. Curator: The wig certainly makes a statement. In his time, it would have been an immediate signifier of status, denoting wealth, power, and belonging to a certain social stratum. Editor: It's fascinating how an object can instantly communicate a person's role. I imagine wearing something like that must have felt like stepping into a character. Curator: Indeed. And Delaunay, as a secretary to the King, would have been very conscious of projecting the right image. It's a very carefully constructed performance of power. Editor: Thinking about those layers of performance makes me wonder what he was like behind the wig. Curator: That’s the enduring power of portraiture: it captures a moment, but also invites us to imagine the person beyond the image. Editor: It leaves you wanting more, which is quite charming.