Chancellor Michel Le Tellier 1678

Robert Nanteuil’s engraving captures Chancellor Michel Le Tellier within the rigid social hierarchies of 17th-century France. Nanteuil, as an artist, navigated the complex web of patronage and power, while Le Tellier embodies the era's aristocratic authority. The sharp lines of the engraving emphasize the Chancellor’s stern gaze and elaborate attire. These were visual markers of status, reinforcing the power dynamics of the time. Engravings like this played a crucial role in disseminating images of the ruling class, shaping public perception and solidifying their authority. But they also captured personal identities, freezing a moment in time that transcended mere propaganda. How do we reconcile the personal and the political? Consider the weight of representation, then and now, and the gaze through which we interpret these historical figures.