Portret van Louise Marie van Orléans

About this artwork

verzamelaarsmerk, verso, gestempeld: Lugt 2228

Art Historical Context

This steel engraving by Erin Corr, created in 1832, presents a formal portrait of Louise Marie of Orléans shortly after she became the first Queen of the Belgians through her marriage to Leopold I. At just 20 years old, Louise Marie embodied the hopes of a newly independent Belgium, and such royal images played a key role in shaping public perception of the monarchy during a period of political transition across Europe. Steel engraving was prized in the early nineteenth century for its ability to render fine lines and withstand large print runs, allowing portraits like this one to reach a wider audience than traditional copperplate methods. Corr, an Irish-born artist active in Belgium, brought precision and elegance to the medium, capturing the sitter’s composed expression and period attire with remarkable clarity. Measuring approximately 50 by 40 centimeters, the print bears a collector’s stamp (Lugt 2228) on the verso, indicating its passage through distinguished private collections. Today it offers viewers a tangible connection to both the technical artistry of Romantic-era printmaking and the personal story of a young queen navigating life in a fledgling nation.

About the Artist

Erin Corr · 1803–1862

Erin Corr (1803–1862) was an Irish engraver of exceptional skill and dedication, born in Brussels of Irish descent on an unknown date in 1803 and dying on August 10, 1862. His career exemplified the internationalism of 19th-century European art, as he trained in Belgium and France before establishing himself as a professor at the Antwerp Academy, where he influenced the next generation of engraver...