Portret van schilder Hyacinthe Collin de Vermont 1761

Manuel Salvador Carmona created this print of Hyacinthe Collin de Vermont in the 1700s. It offers a window into the world of court artists and the institutions that shaped artistic careers in France. Note the trappings of status, such as the elaborate wig, the fine clothing, and the oval frame, all communicating Collin de Vermont's position. Crucially, we learn from the inscription that Collin de Vermont was "Painter in Ordinary to the King" and an adjunct professor at the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture. This Academy was central to artistic life in France, dictating taste and providing access to patronage. Carmona's print thus immortalizes Collin de Vermont but also acknowledges the power of the Academy. Further research into the archives of the Royal Academy would reveal the inner workings of this powerful institution and shed light on the social conditions that made Collin de Vermont's career possible.