Simon Arnauld, Le Marquis de Pomponne 1675

This is Robert Nanteuil’s portrait of Simon Arnauld, Le Marquis de Pomponne, an engraving rendered with meticulous detail. The composition is dominated by the Marquis's face, framed by a voluminous wig that cascades around him, creating a striking contrast between the soft, almost ethereal quality of the hair and the sharp, precise lines defining his facial features. Nanteuil employs line and texture to convey not just likeness, but also status and character. The intricate patterns of the Marquis’s clothing, along with the delicate lace collar, speak to his aristocratic standing, embedding the man within a visual language of power and refinement. The inscription encircling the portrait operates as a semiotic border, reinforcing the subject’s identity and societal role. The artist captures more than a mere image; he constructs a representation deeply embedded within the social and political structures of his time.