Portret van Charles Leclerc 1793 - 1824

This is a portrait of Charles Leclerc by Friedrich Wilhelm Nettling, created using etching. Notice how Leclerc is encircled, almost as if he were a saintly figure in a Renaissance painting. The circle, an ancient symbol of totality, perfection, and eternity, frames him, elevating his status. The side profile presents a calculated image of nobility and decorum. Think of the Roman emperors, whose profiles on coins were not mere likenesses but carefully constructed symbols of power and authority. Leclerc’s image is a carefully curated statement, much like those ancient rulers. Yet, we see a softening, an almost vulnerable quality. It reflects a cultural shift from the stoic, impersonal representations of power to a more intimate, humanized portrayal. It’s a dance between tradition and modernity, the eternal and the temporal, capturing not just a man, but a moment in the ever-turning wheel of history.