Portret van Lodewijk XV, koning van Franrijk c. 1720

Curator: We’re looking at Nicolas de Larmessin III's "Portret van Lodewijk XV, koning van Franrijk," a portrait of Louis XV, King of France, created around 1720. It's an engraving. Editor: The print's monochrome scheme and precise detail give it a regal, almost cool feel, despite the young king's soft features. You can almost feel the weight of the ermine and velvet! Curator: Absolutely. The ermine carries such weight in heraldic imagery; power, purity, status—it all becomes so intertwined with the image of kingship. The artist is definitely drawing on established visual traditions. The very act of portraying royalty reinforces this power. Editor: Precisely, but consider the materials, too! The physical labor involved in producing engravings – the copper plate, the tools, the press. Think of the cost to disseminate such a visual, effectively mass producing the King's image and spreading its meaning across France. This makes royal symbolism even more visible and tangible. Curator: And the oval frame itself. The Latin inscription "LVDOVICVS XV REX CHRISTIANISSIMVS" encircles Louis, emphasizing his divine right. That Baroque-style flourished shield and royal crown below the image certainly drive that point home as well. What message is the crown conveying about succession and dynastic authority? Editor: Right! Someone labored to cut those minute details into the plate; this engraving embodies Baroque sensibilities and is consumed and disseminated in France. That tells us about the entire system sustaining that image—from artisan labor to a monarchy legitimizing itself through repeatable, distributable forms. It all becomes woven together in a single piece. Curator: So we move beyond just a king’s likeness to a deeper understanding of royal identity. Thanks for pulling back the curtain for us on all that. Editor: A king and a crown is never just a king and a crown. It’s about their journey through skilled labor and raw materials, impacting perceptions of political status and royal value in their historical context.