Portret van de advocaat en politicus Adrien Duport 1827

Zéphirin Belliard created this print of Adrien Duport, the lawyer and politician, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. It presents an interesting window onto the visual culture of post-revolutionary France. The image evokes Duport’s role in the early years of the French Revolution. As a member of the Third Estate, he helped to establish the National Assembly and abolish feudalism in France. Looking at the image, we might reflect on how far revolutionary France had come by the time the print was made. Duport wears the sober garb we associate with the revolutionaries. However, it’s also clear that the more radical phase of revolution was over. His powdered wig and elegant jacket hint at a return to the fashion of the old regime. To understand such images fully, we can consult archives of prints and ephemera. These sources are invaluable for understanding the public role of art and its place within social and institutional history.