Titelprent met allegorie op de oorlogsverdiensten van koning Lodewijk XV 1756

Curator: This engraving from 1756, titled "Titelprent met allegorie op de oorlogsverdiensten van koning Lodewijk XV", translates to "Title Print with Allegory on the War Merits of King Louis XV", and it comes to us from Jacques Nicolas Tardieu. Editor: Well, right off the bat, it's baroque and boastful, isn’t it? A classical fanfare for the Sun King and his military…adventures. Gods, cherubs, classical columns... all arranged rather intricately. Very much the “look at me” of statecraft. Curator: Exactly! The composition is dense, almost overloaded, designed to project an image of power and sophistication. Note how the central medallion with Louis XV’s profile is surrounded by allegorical figures representing Fame and Strength, actively celebrating the King’s war efforts. It's visual propaganda at its finest. Editor: Propaganda…wrapped in putti! That central coin portrait of Louis does feel rather detached, doesn’t it? He’s up there on his pedestal – literally – removed from the earthly chaos below, even though the chaos IS supposedly his glory. Kinda makes me question who the work is really trying to convince. Curator: Good point! The print functioned within a very specific system of patronage and power. Think about who would have seen this; officials, other members of the court... people very much aware of both the gains and costs of Louis’s campaigns. Editor: So, it’s about solidifying his image as a triumphant ruler in their eyes... even if reality painted a different picture. The swirling clouds, almost feel like a smokescreen…for heavy taxation and lots of very un-triumphant things, right? Curator: Indeed. It’s also playing into a long tradition of representing rulers through classical and allegorical imagery, placing Louis XV within a lineage of powerful, almost godlike leaders. This style reflects the academic art tendencies prevalent during his reign. Editor: You know, for something so deliberately staged and political, it has that compelling… pomposity? I find myself almost admiring it, like a beautifully executed, supremely confident lie. Curator: Precisely. The artistry and technique involved elevate it beyond simple propaganda. We're left considering its complexities: a fascinating snapshot of how power constructs and perpetuates its image through art.