Monseigneur Charles de Saint-Albin, Archbishop of Cambrai 1740

Hyacinthe Rigaud’s drawing portrays Monseigneur Charles de Saint-Albin with chalk on paper. The composition is structured around a central, seated figure enveloped in luxurious drapery, offset against a backdrop of classical architectural elements. The restrained use of color—primarily warm browns, creams, and whites—creates a sense of understated opulence and gravitas. The subject's pose, with his hand resting on his chest, is a carefully constructed signifier of authority and piety. Rigaud's attention to texture, particularly in the rendering of fabric and the sitter's wig, introduces a tactile quality that enlivens the drawing. This work functions within the semiotic language of portraiture, using visual cues like clothing, setting, and posture to convey the sitter’s status and character. Rigaud masterfully manipulates these visual codes to not only represent but also to construct an image of power and spiritual authority, reflecting broader cultural values. By using the conventions of formal portraiture, Rigaud invites us to decode the layers of meaning embedded within the drawing's formal elements.