Portret van François de Vendôme hertog van Beaufort 1652

This is a print of François de Vendôme, Duke of Beaufort, made in Paris in 1652 by Pierre Daret. The portrait is framed within an oval, below which sits the Duke’s coat of arms, followed by lines of descriptive text. The image is replete with signs of wealth, power and status. Beaufort is ornately dressed and armored, with flowing locks that suggest nobility. But this image does more than simply depict a privileged man; it communicates the social structures of the time. It was produced under the reign of Louis XIV, a period when the French monarchy sought to consolidate its power through carefully crafted imagery. Prints like these played a key role in disseminating controlled representations of prominent figures and events. Understanding this print requires us to look beyond its surface. By researching the political context of 17th-century France, and the institutional history of royal portraiture, we can begin to unpack the complex interplay of art, power, and social control.