Portrait of Jean-Victor, Baron de Besenval n.d.

Claude Drevet’s print portrays Jean-Victor, Baron de Besenval, a figure who navigated the complexities of the French aristocracy during a period of social and political upheaval. Drevet created this image to depict Besenval's status and identity within the rigid hierarchies of 18th-century French society. Besenval’s life was steeped in the privileges of the aristocracy, yet complicated by his Swiss heritage. He served in the French military, commanding the Swiss Guards, a position of considerable influence, but one that also marked him as an outsider within the French court. The portrait captures Besenval adorned in armor, a symbol of his military prowess and noble status, yet it also hints at the tensions inherent in his identity as a Swiss man in the service of the French monarchy. Besenval’s memoirs reveal a man acutely aware of the shifting sands of power and privilege. His story offers a glimpse into the intricacies of identity, belonging, and the human condition amidst the grandeur and inequities of the ancien régime.