Model for a Statue of Louis XV 1746 - 1748

Jean-Baptiste Lemoyne II crafted this model of Louis XV in terracotta. Notice how the sculpture embodies a dynamic spiral composition, with the king's body twisting and turning. The flowing lines of the drapery contrast with the rigid, geometric folds of his tunic. The artist uses these formal elements to negotiate the complex relationship between power and representation. The king is depicted in classical garb, referencing the Roman emperors and alluding to the timelessness of his rule. But this idealized representation is destabilized by the work's medium. Terracotta is fragile, earthy. It reminds us of the king's mortality. Consider the semiotic system at play. The king’s regalia—the cloak, the scepter—are all signs of his authority, yet the sculpture hints at the artifice of such symbols. Ultimately, the twisting form of the sculpture and its textured materiality create an unresolved tension. It invites ongoing interpretation of power, representation, and the transient nature of earthly authority.