Portret van Jean-Baptiste Cyrus de Timbrune de Thiembronne 1820 - 1821

This print depicts Jean-Baptiste Cyrus de Timbrune de Thiembronne, created by Ambroise Tardieu. Note the subject’s chest, emblazoned with stars. Stars as symbols of guidance and divine favor stretch back into antiquity, guiding sailors and mystics alike. Consider how this motif of the star has endured: from the Star of Bethlehem, guiding the Magi, to the heraldic symbols of nobility and nationhood. Medals, orders, and flags still bear this celestial body today, yet its meaning has been altered. The star is laden with cultural baggage, shifting from religious awe to secular power. What once evoked the infinite, now signifies something finite and grounded. This cyclical progression is the lifeblood of the image – eternally resurfacing, evolving, and taking on new meanings in different historical contexts.