Cavalier 1585 - 1594

Barthélemy Prieur made this bronze statuette, Cavalier, sometime in the late 16th or early 17th century. It depicts a courtier in lavish clothing in a mannerist style. France during this time was a place of intense religious and political conflict. The French Wars of Religion saw Catholics battling Protestants for control of the country. Royal patronage was essential for artists like Prieur, who served as sculptor to the king. The Cavalier is a figure of confident authority, an ideal of aristocratic masculinity during a time of upheaval. Notice his elegant pose, his hand casually resting on his hip. He holds gloves, a symbol of status. To understand this work, we examine the history of court culture, of costume, and of bronze casting. These illuminate the Cavalier as a symbol of power during a turbulent era. We understand that art's meaning is always tied to its social and institutional context.