Portret van M.C. Lemesle 1753 - 1806

Bénédict Alphonse Nicolet made this print, Portret van M.C. Lemesle, using etching. The portrait gives us a glimpse into the world of the French Enlightenment. It depicts a member of the Académie des Sciences, Belles-Lettres, et Arts de Rouen, an institution dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and the arts. The image itself, with its oval frame and decorative ribbon, evokes a sense of classical elegance, in vogue during the 18th century. But, it also speaks to a shifting social landscape. As academies and scientific societies gained prominence, they offered new avenues for social mobility and intellectual exchange, separate from the traditional aristocracy. Lemesle's association with the Academy, as noted below his portrait, signifies his membership in this emerging intellectual elite. To fully appreciate this portrait, we might delve into the archives of the Académie des Sciences to find out more about the social role of scientific and artistic institutions in pre-revolutionary France.