Mme. de Maintenon n.d.

This is Paolo Mercuri's portrait of Madame de Maintenon. It is currently held at the Art Institute of Chicago. Mercuri was an Italian engraver, who made his living reproducing paintings in widely circulated prints. This portrait speaks to the way powerful people, even those without noble birth, could promote themselves through the circulation of their images. Madame de Maintenon rose from humble origins to secretly marry King Louis XIV of France. Although their marriage was never officially acknowledged, she wielded significant influence at court. The details of the image are telling. Madame de Maintenon is adorned with pearls, symbols of wealth and status. This would have been carefully considered. The portrait, and its distribution, became a means of shaping her public image and solidifying her place in history. To fully appreciate this image, we need to delve into the social and political context of 17th and 18th-century France, examining the role of the monarchy, the dynamics of the court, and the cultural significance of portraiture.