André François Alloys de Theys d’Herculais 1727

Nicolas de Largillière painted this portrait of André François Alloys de Theys d’Herculais, likely in the early 18th century. Its martial imagery situates the sitter within France’s aristocratic military class under Louis XIV. But this representation of power is carefully constructed. André François is adorned with expensive fabrics and furs, signalling wealth and status. The theatrical landscape complete with classical ruins is an artificial construct, a stage for the sitter’s performance of nobility. Even the suit of armour, while alluding to military prowess, looks more ceremonial than functional. France at this time was a society of spectacle, where appearances were carefully managed to uphold the social hierarchy. Artists like Largillière played a key role in maintaining this order, producing images that reinforced the power of the elite. Art historians study portraiture of this kind to unravel the complex relationship between art, power, and social identity. Through archival research and analysis of visual codes, we can better understand how images like this shaped and reflected the values of their time.