Portret van Guillaume Raviot 1735

Sébastien Antoine made this print of Guillaume Raviot, advocate of parliament, sometime in the 18th century. The formal conventions of this portrait speak volumes about the society in which it was made. Consider the trappings of Raviot’s status: his voluminous wig, his clerical collar, and the inscription surrounding the portrait which identifies him as an advocate. Note also the heraldic shield below, complete with crown and Latin inscription. Raviot presents himself as a man of law, church, and nobility. But how fixed were these categories in 18th century France? Careful researchers might consult legal and ecclesiastical archives to find details of Raviot’s life and career. Genealogical records could illuminate his family’s nobility, uncovering when and how they acquired this status. Such resources help us understand the social mobility of the time, and the way ambitious men like Raviot sought to solidify their position within it through portraiture.