Portret van ridder Pierre du Terrail de Bayard 1823 - 1827

Joseph Beaume created this portrait of Pierre du Terrail de Bayard using lithography during a period of renewed interest in historical figures. Beaume's work aligns with the Romantic era's focus on heroic individuals, reflecting a desire to connect with a past perceived as more noble and virtuous. The portrait presents Bayard, a knight from the late 15th and early 16th centuries, in a manner that emphasizes his status and valor. Yet, representations like these also served to reinforce the values of the French aristocracy during a time of social upheaval and revolution. Bayard was known as 'the knight without fear and beyond reproach'. How do we view historical figures through the lens of contemporary values? Does our understanding of heroism change as society evolves? This image prompts us to consider how historical narratives are constructed, and whose values they reflect.