Ruiterportret van Bernard de Foix de la Valette, hertog van Epernon 1627

Michel Lasne created this print of Bernard de Foix de la Valette, Duke of Epernon, sometime in the first half of the 17th century. Equestrian portraits like this one were common in Europe, particularly in France. Lasne's print is a carefully constructed image of power. Bernard de Foix de la Valette is shown in armor, on horseback, and accompanied by allegorical figures from mythology. Light radiates down on him, as if to suggest divine approval. We might ask what social purpose such an image served at the time it was made. Was it intended to project power and authority? Does it invite the viewer to worship or obey the Duke? To explore these questions we might turn to primary source documents, such as letters, diaries, and administrative records, to better understand the social and institutional forces that shaped both the production and the reception of this print.