Portrait of the Marquis de Noirville

Charles Edward Crespy Le Prince made this print of the Marquis de Noirville using etching and engraving. It encapsulates how the French aristocracy sought to represent itself after the Revolution. The Marquis is shown in profile, a common visual language found in aristocratic portraiture from ancient coins to Neoclassical painting. This view emphasizes his noble lineage and stoic character. His elaborate military dress and heraldic crest, however, speak to a specific moment in French history, a time in which symbols of nobility were embraced and sometimes mocked. Was this Marquis a relic of the past, or a man of the future? To understand the politics of this image, we need to research the history of the Noirville family, the shifting attitudes toward the aristocracy in 19th century France, and the artistic conventions that governed portraiture at the time. Only then can we fully appreciate the social dynamics at play.