Portret van Claude II van Aumale 1576 - 1614

Thomas de Leu created this engraving of Claude II of Aumale in the late 16th or early 17th century. The print gives us insight into the subject’s position within the aristocratic society of France at that time. Claude is depicted as a figure of military strength, as we can see from his armor and sword. The text below the image explicitly states that he is ‘armed’ and ‘furious like Mars’. The inscription also tells us that he is the ‘terror of the fearful Huguenot’. This detail is key to understanding the image, as it indicates Claude’s allegiance to the Catholic cause during the French Wars of Religion. He is positioned as a defender of the Catholic Church against the Protestant Huguenots. To understand the full meaning of this print, we might consult historical texts, religious documents, and biographical information about Claude II of Aumale and Thomas de Leu. Art is always contingent on the social and institutional context in which it is made.