Charles Gabriel de Tubières de Caylus, Bishop of Auxerre 1739

Editor: So, this is Georg Friedrich Schmidt’s portrait of Charles Gabriel de Tubières de Caylus, Bishop of Auxerre, housed at the Harvard Art Museums. It gives off a very formal, almost staged feeling. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Well, darling, it's an invitation into a world obsessed with appearances, isn't it? Look at the bishop's wig – a veritable cloud of power! Schmidt captures him in his element, surrounded by symbols of authority. It whispers of powdered wigs and courtly intrigue. Don't you think? Editor: It does, actually. It makes me wonder about the real person beneath all the regalia. Curator: Exactly! Art is a mirror, reflecting not just what's seen, but what's hidden. It's a challenge to look deeper. Editor: Definitely something to think about. Thanks!