Portret van Maximilien de Bethune, hertog van Sully c. 1788 - 1805

Jean Baptiste Vérité’s engraving portrays Maximilien de Bethune, Duc de Sully, with a striking emphasis on form and texture. Encased within an oval frame, the portrait's composition draws our attention to the interplay between light and shadow, meticulously rendered to convey the subject's features. The engraver uses fine lines to define the textures of the Duke’s armour and ruff collar, creating a tactile quality. The overall structure, with its carefully balanced use of dark and light, exemplifies a formal approach, where the artistic elements themselves convey meaning. The lines and tonal gradations function almost as signs, pointing not only to the Duke’s likeness but also to his status and the values of his time. This structured composition isn’t merely representational; it engages with broader questions about perception, power, and the representation of identity through art. The engraving challenges fixed meanings, inviting us to reconsider how we perceive historical figures and the values they represent.