Portret van Ninon de Lenclos 1792 - 1809

Parfait Augrand rendered this portrait of Ninon de Lenclos with engraving. It is a fine example of how symbols and iconography can reflect cultural values. Notice the pearls adorning her neck, they represent purity, but here, they also signify wealth and status, reflecting the social currency of the time. This echoes the symbolism of pearls in Renaissance portraits, where they were often associated with virtue and marital status. Yet, their display here hints at a departure from purely religious contexts, towards a more secular display of affluence. The gesture of her hands hints at a concealed narrative, a subtle expression of modesty but also control. It is reminiscent of poses found in classical sculptures, where gestures convey complex emotional states. Think of the Venus Pudica, where the covering of the body is an expression of modesty, but also draws attention to the very thing it conceals. The portrait is a tableau of social and psychological signals, mirroring the shifting sands of meaning across epochs.