Reproductie van een miniatuur, voorstellende Karel VI van Frankrijk before 1879

Édouard-Jean Dambourgez made this reproduction of a miniature depicting Charles VI of France. The image reproduces, and perhaps also reimagines, the French monarch. How are we to understand the relationship of the copy to the original? Dambourgez's image belongs to a long history of reproducing royal effigies, and this one raises some interesting questions. Royal portraiture has always functioned as a form of propaganda, a means of reinforcing power through visual codes. Here, the King is framed by heraldic symbols, and his posture is suitably dignified. The choice to reproduce it as a miniature is also interesting. Traditionally, the practice of commissioning miniatures was reserved for elites. Note also the emphasis on fine detail, the painstaking work of the artist, and the precious materials of the book, all of which speak to a culture of connoisseurship. Historical research into the context of artistic production can help us better understand the complex social life of images.