Portrait of Louis XV as Dauphin 1721

Rosalba Carriera made this pastel portrait of Louis XV as Dauphin. Carriera was a Venetian artist who toured the courts of Europe, and she often worked for aristocratic patrons like the royal family of France. This portrait, with its soft colors and delicate lines, presents the young Louis in an idealized, almost feminine way. Note the elaborate wig, the lace collar, and the star of the Order of the Holy Spirit, all signifiers of his noble status. The image comes from a time when the French monarchy was at the height of its power, and royal portraiture played a key role in constructing an image of authority and legitimacy. The question for the historian is always, what is the image designed to communicate and to whom? A painting like this might be compared with court documents, fashion plates, and other visual materials to help us better understand the codes through which status and power were communicated at the time.