Portret van Frans I van Frankrijk 1650 - 1706

Nicolas de Plattemontagne created this print of Francis I, King of France, sometime between the 1660s and 1700s. It reflects the enduring power of the French monarchy to shape its own image in the public sphere. Here, Francis is presented within an octagonal frame, a format that recalls royal portraiture of the Renaissance. Plattemontagne, however, was working at a time when the French monarchy was consolidating its power through institutions like the Académie Royale de Peinture et de Sculpture. This institution was crucial in dictating artistic taste and promoting images that glorified the king. Prints like this one played a crucial role in disseminating royal imagery throughout France and beyond. They were collected by members of the court, as well as by the rising middle class, who wanted to own an image of the King. As art historians, we can look to archival sources, such as royal inventories, to better understand the circulation and reception of images like this one. Through this kind of research, we are able to understand the crucial role that images played in shaping political power.