Jean-Louis-Charles d'Orleans-Longueville, Comte de Dunois 1660

Curator: Here we have a print by Robert Nanteuil, dating from the 17th century, depicting Jean-Louis-Charles d'Orleans-Longueville, Comte de Dunois. Editor: He looks like he's just been told he has to attend a ball and he'd rather be anywhere else. The eyes say it all, don’t they? Curator: Well, Nanteuil was the portraitist of choice for the French court. Think of this as an exercise in controlled self-presentation, of constructing an image of power and status. Editor: Power, yes, but I also see vulnerability. Maybe it's the soft curls, the almost hesitant gaze. He seems trapped by the frame, literally and figuratively. It makes you wonder about the true cost of such a public role. Curator: The details certainly give us clues. The elaborate clothing, the inscription proclaiming his noble status – these were carefully chosen to project an image of authority and legitimacy. Editor: True, but art often whispers more than it shouts. It’s in those quiet spaces that the real story lives. Curator: Indeed. It’s a delicate balancing act between what is shown and what remains unspoken. Editor: I think, beyond the visual, it reveals the struggle to reconcile the inner self with public expectation. It is still an extremely compelling piece.