Portret van Scévole de Sainte-Marthe 1744

Etienne Fessard made this print of Scévole de Sainte-Marthe, a French poet and political figure, using engraving. The portrait, set within an oval frame, presents us with an image steeped in the visual language of the French Renaissance. Consider the elaborate ruff collar, the somber attire, and the very inclusion of a portrait, these were visual markers of status and intellect, designed to convey the sitter's position within the social hierarchy of the 17th century. France at this time was experiencing religious and political conflict and Sainte-Marthe himself was caught up in the turmoil of the French Wars of Religion, using his poetry and position to navigate the complexities of the era. This portrait, then, is not merely a likeness, but a carefully constructed statement about identity, allegiance, and the role of the intellectual in a fractured society. To fully understand a work like this we need to use historical resources. By looking into Sainte-Marthe’s biography, alongside studies of French Renaissance fashion and social structures, we gain a much richer appreciation of this portrait.