Cardinal de Richelieu 

This is Philippe de Champaigne's portrait of Cardinal Richelieu, who was painted sometime in the mid-17th century. The portrait offers a lens through which we can consider the intertwined relationship between art, power, and the Church in 17th-century France. Richelieu was not just a cardinal; he was also a formidable political figure, serving as the chief minister to King Louis XIII. The opulence of his robes and the regal bearing speak to his status. But, crucially, this isn't just a celebration of individual power. It's also a statement about the power of the institutions that Richelieu embodied - the Catholic Church and the French monarchy. To fully understand this image, we might turn to historical documents, letters, and accounts from the period. These resources can help us to understand the complex web of social, religious, and political forces that shaped the Cardinal, and also the artist. It is within this rich, textured context that the artwork truly comes alive.