Portrait of Louis XV
18th century
Medium
Etching and engraving; first state of two
Dimensions
plate: 10 1/2 x 7 3/8 in. (26.7 x 18.7 cm) sheet: 10 7/8 x 7 11/16 in. (27.7 x 19.5 cm)
Classification
Prints
Department
Drawings and Prints
Museum
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, NY
Credit
Gift of Susan Schulman Printseller and Carolyn Bullard Fine Prints, 2009
Accession Number
2009.468.18
Tags
Art Historical Context
Step into the opulent world of 18th-century France with this striking *Portrait of Louis XV*, collaborative etching and engraving by Gilles Jacques Petit and Jeanienne Liotard. Created the height of the Bourbon monarchy, this first-state print captures the young king in regal poise, reflecting the era's fascination with royal iconography. Louis XV, who ruled from 1715 to 1774, was often depicted to symbolize stability and divine right, making such portraits essential tools for propaganda and admiration across Europe. The medium—etching combined with fine engraving—highlights the technical mas...
About the Artist
Gilles Jacques Petit|Jean Etienne Liotard (French|Swiss) · 1700 |1702 –1800 |1789
active Paris, 18th century|Swiss, Geneva 1702–1789 Geneva