Portret van François de Villemontée, bisschop van Saint-Malo 1661

Claude Mellan made this engraving of François de Villemontée, Bishop of Saint-Malo, using burin on paper. It's a fascinating example of portraiture as a tool of social representation in 17th century France. The print presents Villemontée within an oval frame, a visual trope that elevates his status. His garments, the small cap, and the cross are potent signifiers of his religious office. The coat of arms further anchors his identity within a network of power and lineage. The artist was working in a time when the Catholic Church still wielded considerable influence. Portraits of this kind reinforced the Church's authority and the sitter's place within its hierarchy. To truly understand this image, we delve into the history of the French Catholic Church and the biographies of its key figures. Researching the institutions of power within 17th century France, we can begin to understand the portrait not just as an image of an individual, but as a reflection of a complex social and institutional history.