Portret van Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve 1786 - 1825

Jean-Baptiste Gautier made this engraving of Jérôme Pétion de Villeneuve in France. We can date the inscription to 1793, the first year of the French Republic. Pétion was a lawyer, writer, and politician who served as mayor of Paris during the early years of the Revolution. This image presents Pétion as a figure of authority. The oval frame recalls ancient cameos of Roman emperors, and connects Pétion to a classical tradition of republican leadership. But while this portrait suggests power, it was made at a time when Pétion’s political star was waning. Although he had once been a popular figure, his association with the Girondins led to his downfall. Examining the original print, kept at the Rijksmuseum, along with newspapers and pamphlets from the period helps us to understand the shifting grounds of revolutionary politics. The image reminds us that artistic production is always shaped by the social conditions of its time.