Tolerance as an icon. Fénelon’s Telemachus and morality in eighteenth-century European iconography

The paper investigates the moral role of Fenelon’s Telemachus in eighteenth-century European painting. The wide circulation enjoyed throughout Europe by François de Salignac de la Mothe Fénelon’s Telemachus might be seen as a forerunner of the principles of tolerance and social justice in eighteenth-century Europe. Drawing on his work as a tutor to the future King of France, Fénelon wrote The Adventures of Telemachus (published in 1699) pursuing the ideal of educating while entraining. Through the adventurous world of the young Telemachus in search of his father Ulysses, Fenelon teaches his pupil to justice, truth and, above all, tolerance and respect for every individual.

Tied to Fenelon’s notion of tolerance is also an idea of balance of power a notion that, as Rotta has shown, will actually be enforced from the Treaty of Utrecht onwards in Europe, contributing to shape its identity. Through archival work, the paper presents an initial survey of iconographic themes relating to the issue of tolerance and to the education towards its underlying values focusing, in particular, on Fénelon’s Telemachus. It considers its impact and its influence across Europe on the way tolerance was understood.