Portret van Lodewijk XV, koning van Frankrijk 1752

This is Jacob Houbraken’s portrait of Louis XV, King of France and Navarre, made as an engraving. The print would have been produced in multiple copies, circulating widely. It’s fair to say that images of monarchs in 18th century Europe, and France in particular, were carefully calibrated to project power, prestige and the divine right to rule. We see this in the use of the oval frame, reminiscent of ancient Roman imperial portraiture, and the inscription below presenting Louis by title. The King’s gaze is directed off to the left of the picture plane, as if surveying his realm, and he is depicted in military garb to suggest his strength. Yet the softness of the engraving technique hints at a certain cultivated sensibility appropriate to the age of the Enlightenment. How can we know more about this image? Contemporary publications like journals, newspapers, and pamphlets will tell us how images of Louis XV were received and understood. We need to situate this print in its moment to understand what it meant.