Jacques Benigne Bossuet, Bishop of Meaux 1771

Editor: This is Jean-Baptiste de Grateloup's portrait of Jacques Benigne Bossuet, Bishop of Meaux. It's an engraving. What strikes me is the Bishop’s intense gaze, almost confrontational. How do you see the relationship between the Bishop and the viewer being constructed here? Curator: The portrait must be understood within the context of the power structures of 18th-century France. Bossuet was a staunch advocate for royal absolutism and divine right. The "confrontational" gaze, as you put it, is a visual assertion of authority, demanding deference. Can we consider how class is being conveyed here, and the gaze acting as a sort of "language" for class power? Editor: I never considered that. So, it’s not just a portrait, it's a statement about power and social order. Curator: Precisely. And the print medium itself democratizes that statement, disseminating this image of authority far beyond the Bishop’s immediate circle. Editor: That makes me see it completely differently. Thanks! Curator: My pleasure. It is essential to consider how these images participate in broader socio-political dialogues.