Royal Education of the Dauphin

Jean Duvivier created "Royal Education of the Dauphin," a bronze medal, sometime before his death in 1761. Notice how the circular form, with its raised relief, emphasizes containment and enclosure. This form echoes the Dauphin's prescribed upbringing, which was tightly controlled by the monarchy. The profile portrait, sharply rendered, flattens the figure against the surface, reducing depth and volume. This technique makes the Dauphin appear more like a symbol than a person. Consider the inscription that encircles the portrait; it frames the Dauphin within the context of lineage and expectations. Duvivier’s formal choices—the flattened perspective, the circular boundary, and the prominent inscription—serve to reinforce the Dauphin’s role as a future leader, bound by tradition and state duty. The artwork reflects the complex interplay between individual identity and societal expectations within the structure of the monarchy.