Church dignitary
Benjamin Arlaud
The corpulent gentleman in this work by Benjamin Arlaud wears a robe indicating his rank as a dignitary of the church. It resembles that of an English bishop, except that at that time a bishop’s robe would have been white instead of red.1 The chain of elaborately worked links was probably awarded to the sitter in recognition of special achievements.
Arlaud presented his model with facial features considered to be good-looking at the time but which are at variance with today’s taste. A small, curved mouth and a strongly accentuated nose were regarded as well formed, and also a certain corpulence was seen as positive. Since the gentleman’s clothing and wig were rather standardised, Arlaud’s only option for bringing out more of his sitter’s personality was in his rendering of the face. And here he was obviously successful.
The shadows created by broad hatching in the background are not the result of Arlaud’s nimble brushstrokes, but of light-sensitive pigments. In the light area of the miniature they lost their intensity in the thin layer, while their colours remained strong in the thicker layers. Unfortunately the light-sensitive paints continue to fade even today, despite the age of the piece.
B. P.