Portret van Pierre-Laurent Buirette de Belloy, gedragen door Minerva en een genie 1765

Claude-Antoine Littret de Montigny made this print of Pierre-Laurent Buirette de Belloy, supported by Minerva and a winged figure, sometime in the 18th century. Prints like this one played a crucial role in shaping public opinion and immortalizing figures of note, especially in France. Here, we see Belloy, a celebrated playwright, being presented as a figure worthy of eternal fame. Minerva, the Roman goddess of wisdom and strategic warfare, along with the winged figure, perhaps representing Fame or Genius, elevates Belloy. This elevation suggests the high cultural value placed on the arts and intellect during this period. Made in France, this print reflects the values of the Enlightenment, where reason and artistic achievement were highly esteemed. The presence of classical figures underscores the era's fascination with antiquity, using it as a benchmark for contemporary greatness. Prints like this are valuable resources for understanding the cultural values, artistic practices, and social structures of 18th-century France. They remind us that art is deeply embedded in its social and institutional context.