Louis XV

Art Historical Context

This elegant engraving, titled *Louis XV*, captures the young king of France in a regal pose, created by master engraver Jean Daull after an original portrait by the renowned Baroque artist Hyacinthe Rigaud Dated 1737, it reflects the opulent world of Louis XV's early reign (1715–4), a time when France's absolute monarchy sought to project grandeur amid shifting cultural tides toward Rococo elegance. Rigaud, famous for his lavish portraits of Louis XIV, brought similar splendor to this depiction, emphasizing royal authority through rich attire and poised demeanor. Daullé's engraving technique—meticulously incising fine lines into a copper plate for inking and printing—allowed for precise reproduction of Rigaud's painting, making the king's image widely accessible beyond elite circles. Measuring 32.2 x 19.5 cm on the plate (46.8 x 31 cm sheet), this print exemplifies 18th-century reproductive printmaking, a vital medium for disseminating art and propaganda. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's Prints department (gift of John O'Brien), it offers visitors a window into how visual culture reinforced Bourbon legitimacy during an era of artistic innovation. (198 words)