Michel de Montaigne 1774

Editor: This is Augustin de Saint-Aubin's portrait of Michel de Montaigne. It feels very formal and imposing, what do you see in this piece? Curator: It's interesting to consider Saint-Aubin's portrayal of Montaigne, centuries after his death. How does the artist grapple with Montaigne's legacy as a skeptic and humanist, given the social and political upheaval of the 18th century? Editor: That's an interesting angle. So it's less about who Montaigne *was*, and more about how Saint-Aubin *interprets* him? Curator: Exactly! Consider how the portrait, framed by architectural motifs, almost enshrines him. What does that suggest about the Enlightenment's relationship to its intellectual predecessors? Editor: I hadn't thought about it that way. It's like he's being presented as a figure of authority. Curator: Precisely. And authority is always political, wouldn't you agree? Editor: Definitely, this was very insightful. Thanks!