Portrait of Théodore Tronchin 1782

Curator: Standing before us is "Portrait of Théodore Tronchin," an engraving completed in 1782 by René Gaillard. The portrait embodies the Neoclassical style and resides here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Editor: He looks…suspiciously affable, doesn’t he? Like he knows something you don’t and he’s politely trying not to gloat about it. It's a serious and straightforward composition but has an intimate and somehow approachable demeanor, if that makes any sense. Curator: I see what you mean! He does have a rather mischievous twinkle in his eye, and you are correct, it is quite approachable! Considering Tronchin's era and the Neoclassical influence, portraits such as these were largely about projecting Enlightenment ideals – reason, order, and, yes, social virtue. This engraving speaks to a growing professional class defining itself against inherited aristocratic power. Editor: Yes, the "I'm enlightened" pose! But also...I get the sense that he's maybe a bit of a rebel too? His expression conveys authority, which must've served him well in Geneva, and this comes through despite it being such an early printmaking style. Curator: Precisely! While the image adheres to Neoclassical ideals of restraint and decorum, there is indeed an implicit message of personal intellect and ambition. It subtly challenges the viewer to consider what the professional might achieve outside traditional social boundaries. The artist, Gaillard, was skilled at rendering detail, so this helps add to the layered personality. Editor: So it is more than just a surface level, "virtuous" guy. Also, those buttoned coats just scream quiet authority to me! I wonder if that collar itches, though! I am intrigued about what other details exist outside of this cropped box...what does his desk or library or alchemist shop look like? Curator: I concur; Tronchin's portrait is more than meets the eye at first glance. By highlighting his status as a modern intellectual, the engraving contributes to broader narratives about the rise of secular thought and shifting social dynamics of the late 18th century, where he embodies more than a single virtue. Editor: Yeah. It makes me curious and now, I want to do more research about Dr. Théodore Tronchin, Enlightenment rebel doctor! Curator: Well, then it sounds like this engraving is more powerful than initially thought; maybe a bit of its Enlightenment brilliance has rubbed off onto you! Editor: Maybe you are right; I'm seeing new insights on him and in turn, on myself. That's what great portraits are meant to do, right?