Louis de France, duc de Bourgogne c. 18th century

Editor: This is Pierre Drevet's engraving of Louis de France, duc de Bourgogne, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It's quite striking, a portrait framed within a portrait, almost. What symbols or meanings do you find embedded in this image? Curator: Note how the armor contrasts with his youthful face and elaborate wig. What does that juxtaposition suggest about power, performance, and perhaps even vulnerability in the context of French royalty? Editor: That makes me see the armor differently—less about strength, more about the trappings of power. Thanks! Curator: Indeed! Think about how visual language shapes our understanding of identity and authority.