Portrait of Louis Bourbon, Infants of Spain (1773- )
ca. 1805
Medium
Classification
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Gift of Eleanor and Sarah Hewitt
Accession Number
1931-94-161
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
This enigmatic print, titled *Portrait of Louis Bourbon, of Spain (1773)*, dates to around 1805 and captures a member of Spain's illustrious Bourbon dynasty. The subject, an Infante— a title reserved for royal princes—likely reflects the grandeur of Spanish nobility during a turbulent era marked by the Napoleonic Wars and political upheaval under King Charles IV. Produced as a print, this artwork exemplifies how such media democratized access to elite imagery, allowing portraits of royalty to circulate widely through engravings or etchings, fostering public admiration and dynastic propaganda. ...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...