Jean Petre 1649 - 1724

This engraving of Jean Petre by Jean Langlois captures the sitter's essence through carefully chosen symbols of his profession. The book, held firmly in Petre’s hand, is not merely an object, but a potent emblem of knowledge, authority, and the written word—the foundation of his identity as a legal figure. Consider the gesture of holding the book. Across centuries, from ancient scholars to religious figures, this act signifies wisdom and learning. This motif finds echoes in countless Renaissance portraits, where learned men are depicted with books, underscoring their intellectual prowess. Yet, the way Petre clutches the book also suggests an anxiety, a conscious act of presenting himself in a certain light. This connects to a deeper psychological need for recognition and status. Notice how such symbols are not static; they evolve. The book, once a sacred object, here becomes a tool of trade, a signifier of professional standing in the burgeoning world of Parisian bureaucracy. We are reminded that cultural memory is not a straight line, but a cyclical return, where symbols resurface, transformed by the currents of time and human experience.