Koning Hendrik II ontvangt een ridder van de orde van St. Michel 1729 - 1733

Dominique Sornique created this print of King Henry II receiving a knight of the Order of Saint Michel. Linear perspective is central to its organization. The composition directs our gaze from the foreground up through the figures arranged on the right and left towards the enthroned king. It evokes feelings of reverence, with its tight, uniform shapes. Notice how the figures on either side create a strong sense of depth. The artist meticulously rendered this scene through the medium of printmaking by using line and form. The lines create depth and direct the viewer's eye throughout the composition. The precise detail and symmetry used in the artwork function not just aesthetically but also to highlight the strict social hierarchies and the performance of power.