Aanbidding door de koningen c. 1742

Nicolas Gabriel Dupuis created this print, "Aanbidding door de koningen" or "Adoration of the Kings," in France, sometime in the 18th century. This print reproduces a painting by the Venetian artist Paolo Veronese. The "Adoration of the Kings" speaks to the politics of imagery in the early modern period. Religious imagery reinforced established hierarchies and social norms. The story of the Magi acknowledging Christ's divinity served as a potent symbol of divinely sanctioned rule. Dupuis's print testifies to the cultural prestige of Venetian painting in France at the time. The inscription tells us that the original painting was held in a private collection or ‘cabinet’. Printmaking thus served a public role, by making prestigious artworks available to a wider audience. By studying sources such as letters, inventories, and sale catalogs, art historians can better understand the social conditions that shaped the production and reception of prints like this. Understanding its institutional context reveals the important social function art fulfills.