Michel de Montaigne 1772

Editor: So, this is Étienne Ficquet's portrait of Michel de Montaigne, it's an engraving. The detail is just incredible! What strikes me is how he's framed, like a precious jewel. What do you make of this image, its mood, and the way Ficquet chose to portray Montaigne? Curator: It feels deeply reverential, doesn't it? As if Ficquet wasn't just capturing a likeness, but enshrining Montaigne's legacy. That ornate frame, the weighty book... it all speaks to his intellectual stature. Editor: It’s like he’s not just a person, but an idea. Curator: Exactly! The image invites us to ponder the enduring power of ideas, how a man and his words can resonate through centuries. Maybe we should all be framed by our thoughts! Editor: I never thought about portraiture like that, as enshrining an idea. Curator: Right? It’s like Ficquet is saying, “Here’s a mind, contemplate it.”