Portret van Emmanuel-Armand de Vignerot du Plessis-Richelieu, hertog van Aiguillon 19th century

This is an undated engraving of Emmanuel-Armand de Vignerot du Plessis-Richelieu, Duke of Aiguillon, by an anonymous artist. The Duke of Aiguillon lived through a pivotal time in French history, a period defined by aristocratic excess, social inequality, and revolutionary fervor. Here, he’s depicted with a cool gaze, his powdered wig and ornate cravat symbols of his noble status. As one of the most powerful men in France, the Duke represents the entrenched structures of power that would eventually crumble during the French Revolution. Yet, as viewers, we might wonder about the personal cost of such a position during such turbulent times. This portrait serves not only as a record of a powerful man but as a mirror reflecting the societal tensions of pre-revolutionary France. It invites us to consider how individual identities are shaped by the larger historical forces at play.