Portret van Marie Thérèse Charlotte van Frankrijk 1785 - 1845

This is J.L. Benoist’s portrait of Marie Thérèse Charlotte of France, made during a period of immense social and political upheaval. Born into royalty, Marie Thérèse Charlotte, or Madame Royale, lived through the French Revolution and the execution of her parents, Queen Marie Antoinette and King Louis XVI. Her identity was inextricably linked to the monarchy, a status that placed her at the center of a tumultuous historical moment. We might consider her as a figure of resilience, navigating survival, loss, and exile. The portrait captures an attempt to restore dignity in the face of revolutionary change. Note the subject's elegant dress, which speaks to her aristocratic background, though the sitter's gaze also conveys a sense of contemplation. This portrait is not merely a depiction of a royal figure, but a meditation on the intersection of personal identity, political power, and historical destiny.