Portret van Simon Arnauld de Pomponne 1642 - 1678

This print of Simon Arnauld de Pomponne was made by Nicolas de Larmessin in France in the late 17th century. The image speaks to the power and status of its sitter, but also to the social function of portraiture at the time. As Secretary of State under Louis XIV, Pomponne was a key figure in the French court. The print, with its elaborate frame and formal inscription, speaks to the importance of representing status in an era when political power depended on courtly image and display. The flowing wig, the lace collar, and the decorative robe are all visual codes of class, communicating the sitter's prestige to a wide audience. Such images played a crucial role in the political theater of the court. We can learn more about Pomponne's place in the court and the image culture of the time from period sources, such as letters and diaries, as well as official records. The print reminds us that the history of art is inseparable from the history of power.