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Etienne de Silhouette - Profile portrait
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Etienne de Silhouette - Profile portrait
Etienne de Silhouette (1709-1767) - French Controller-General of Finances under Louis XV of France. His miserly tenure gave birth to the term a la Silhouette applying to the perception of things as cheap. The cutting of shadow profiles from black paper gained in popularity at a similar time and these simple (and cheap!) alternatives to painted miniatures or sculpture also gained the tag silhouette. This terminolgy subsequently stuck.
circa 1750
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Media ID 7194535
© Mary Evans Picture Library 2015 - https://copyrighthub.org/s0/hub1/creation/maryevans/MaryEvansPictureID/10547686
Controller Etienne Finance Finances Financial Shadow Silhouettes 15th
EDITORS COMMENTS
This profile portrait captures the stern and serious visage of Etienne de Silhouette, a pivotal figure in 18th century French finance and politics. Born in 1709, Etienne became Controller-General of Finances under King Louis XV of France in the mid-1750s. During his tenure, he implemented strict fiscal measures aimed at reducing the royal debt and restoring financial stability. Silhouette's austere approach to spending and his focus on economy earned him a reputation as a miser, leading to the popular term "a la Silhouette," which came to signify things perceived as cheap or simple. Interestingly, around the same time, the art of creating silhouette portraits using black paper and scissors gained widespread popularity. These inexpensive and uncomplicated alternatives to painted miniatures or sculpture also came to be known as silhouettes, and the term has since stuck. Etienne de Silhouette's impact on French finance and the arts during the 18th century was profound, leaving a lasting legacy that continues to resonate today. This powerful profile portrait, with its intriguing historical context, offers a glimpse into the life of a man who shaped the financial landscape of his time and influenced the artistic trends of the century.
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