Portrait of Louis XVIII

Art Historical Context

This striking lithograph by Pierre Nolasque Bergeret captures King Louis XVIII in 181, just one year after the Bourbon restoration following Napoleon’s defeat. As a formal portrait of the monarch who returned to the French throne, the work reflects the political climate of post-revolutionary France, where traditional royal imagery was reasserted to legitimize the new regime. Bergeret, an early pioneer of lithography, used this emerging medium to create an accessible yet dignified image of the king for a broader audience. The choice of lithography is particularly significant. Invented only two decades earlier, the technique allowed artists to draw directly on stone, producing fine tonal effects and multiple impressions with relative ease. Here, Bergeret employs delicate shading and precise line work to convey the king’s features and regal bearing, demonstrating how the new process could rival more established printmaking methods while reaching wider circles of viewers. Measuring roughly 28 by 25 centimeters, this print from the Art Institute of Chicago’s collection exemplifies the intersection of art and politics in early nineteenth-century France. It offers visitors a glimpse into how portraiture helped shape public perception during a period of restored monarchy and technological innovation.