Portrait Medallion of King Louis XV set in a Decorative Frame with a Relief
1772
Medium
Pen and black ink, partially over black chalk underdrawing, on vellum
Dimensions
7 5/8 × 5 3/16 in. (19.3 × 13.1 cm)
Classification
Drawings|Ornament & Architecture
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Ian Woodner Family Collection Fund, 2018
Accession Number
2018.20
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 1772 drawing by Fontaine presents a portrait medallion of King Louis XV elegantly framed within an ornate architectural relief. Created late in the monarch’s long reign, the work captures the refined taste of the French court through its careful balance of regal likeness and decorative flourish. As a design on vellum, it likely served as a preparatory study for a larger decorative object—perhaps a medal, plaque, or furniture ornament—intended to honor the king. Executed in pen and black ink over subtle black-chalk underdrawing, the piece demonstrates the precision required for ...