Diverse portretten van koninklijke figuren 1729 - 1733

Dominique Sornique made this print of royal portraits sometime in the first half of the 18th century. This etching speaks to the enduring power of images to shape historical memory. Here, Sornique depicts Hugh Capet, Robert, and Constance, along with other figures and royal seals. Notice how they are presented like sculptures, a common method of ennobling royal figures at the time. By drawing on earlier visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations, Sornique’s print participates in a long tradition of consolidating royal power through the circulation of idealized likenesses. But we should also ask: what exactly was Sornique's relationship to the monarchy? Was this an official commission, or was it an independent work made for a different kind of public? Understanding the role of patronage or the print market can help us understand its cultural significance and political meaning. By consulting sources like letters, archives, and other period documents, we can better understand the complex social conditions that shaped this image.