Portret van Armand Jean Le Bouthillier de Rancé 1675 - 1727

Claude Duflos created this print of Armand Jean Le Bouthillier de Rancé in France, sometime around the turn of the 18th century. It commemorates a famous abbot of the Trappist order, a branch of the Cistercians known for their strict asceticism. Images like this one served to reinforce the authority and piety of religious figures, but also reflect the complex social dynamics within the Catholic Church at the time. The Order occupied an important place in the social and spiritual life of France. The formal pose, framed in an oval, evokes classical portraiture, a visual language of power and status. The inscription below the image reinforces its didactic purpose, urging the viewer to contemplate the image of Christ's suffering. By studying pamphlets, letters, and institutional records, we can better understand the role of images like this one in shaping religious identity and social values in early modern France.