Portrait of a Painter (presumably C. L. Agricola, 1667-1719) 1714

Antoine Pesne likely painted this oil on canvas portrait of Carl Ludwig Agricola sometime in the early 18th century. Agricola, like Pesne, worked within courtly artistic circles, so this portrait speaks to the self-fashioning that occurred within those institutions. Note Agricola’s direct gaze and confident demeanor, the ruffled cuffs, and the beret. All speak to his status as a man of skill and learning. His artist’s palette and brushes, prominently displayed, underscore his profession, but they also hint at the way artistic skill was a form of social currency. When we consider the artwork’s patronage, we must ask: What role did the royal courts play in shaping artistic careers? How did artists use portraiture to negotiate their position within these hierarchical structures? Investigating court records and artists' biographies can shed light on the intricate relationship between art, power, and social mobility in the 1700s.