Francois de Malherbe 1805

This is an engraving of François de Malherbe, made by Augustin de Saint-Aubin, probably in France, sometime in the late 18th century. Malherbe was a 17th-century poet, known for his classical style and influence on the French language. The image is presented as a portrait within an oval frame, a conventional way to represent figures of authority in that period. Saint-Aubin has carefully rendered the details of Malherbe's clothing and facial features, but more importantly, he is depicting a cultural icon of the French classical age, a period that was very important for the elites of Saint-Aubin's time. This interest in the past was part of a broader cultural movement, driven by the institutions of the French state. The image is not just a record of Malherbe's appearance, it’s an active construction of his cultural status for a later audience. We can understand this function through the study of engravings, portraiture, and the classical tradition in France.