Claude Thevenin 1657

Editor: Here we have Robert Nanteuil’s portrait of Claude Thevenin. I'm struck by the formal nature of it, and the way his gaze engages the viewer. What can you tell me about it? Curator: Nanteuil’s work captures more than likeness. It presents Thevenin, a canon, as a figure of authority within the church. But how might his position reflect the social stratification of the era, and who was excluded from such power? Editor: That's a really interesting point. I hadn't considered it in terms of power dynamics. Curator: Consider the implications of representing religious figures. How does it reinforce or challenge existing social structures, and whose stories remain untold?