Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette Crowned by Love 1775

Editor: Here we have Gabriel de Saint-Aubin's "Louis XVI and Marie-Antoinette Crowned by Love," made in 1775, using watercolor and drawing techniques. It's quite faded, but it gives me an intimate sense of the royal couple. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: I’m drawn to the materiality of this work. Notice how Saint-Aubin employs watercolor, typically a medium for preparatory sketches or personal works, to depict the monarchy. It undermines the traditional expectation of formal, imposing oil portraits, suggesting a more immediate, perhaps even commercial, vision of power. Editor: Commercial? Curator: Certainly. Saint-Aubin was known for his vibrant street scenes capturing daily Parisian life and commerce. This watercolor, despite its royal subject, may be less about immortalizing Louis and Marie Antoinette and more about satisfying a popular appetite for images of the royal court. It speaks to a developing market for royal memorabilia. How do the visible layers of paint, the technique of watercolour bleed and the drawing style challenge established power? Editor: It definitely doesn’t feel like the formal portraits we associate with royalty. The use of watercolor seems almost… accessible. Curator: Precisely! Think about the social context: France in 1775. While the aristocracy still held sway, revolutionary fervor was brewing. Saint-Aubin's choice of medium could be interpreted as a subtle democratizing gesture, making the monarchy more relatable, or perhaps even reflecting the fragility of their reign. The production and dissemination of this watercolour suggests a monarchy trying to engage, in the most controlled manner, with its increasingly dissatisfied populace. Editor: I see what you mean. Focusing on the materials and the time period, it changes the whole interpretation of the artwork. Thank you! Curator: My pleasure! This artwork invites us to think about power, production, and the public, prompting crucial discussions for a comprehensive historical view.