Cardinal André Hercule de Fleury c. 1725

Curator: Looking at François Chereau the elder's portrait of Cardinal André Hercule de Fleury, I'm immediately struck by how it reflects the power structures of its time. Editor: Yeah, he’s got this "I’m in charge" vibe, but honestly, I see a lot of weariness in his eyes. Like, "Another day, another political headache," you know? Curator: The print, with its formal composition and elaborate framing, reinforces the Cardinal's status. We need to consider the socio-political context, his role in Louis XV's court, to understand the image's intent. Editor: True, but there's something vulnerable there too. It's like the artist caught a glimpse of the human beneath the robes, you know? Maybe he wasn’t always Grand Maitre. Curator: I appreciate how you see that vulnerability, humanizing a figure often perceived only through the lens of power, it’s a crucial element. Editor: Always! It reminds us that even Cardinals have bad days.