Portret van Lotharius, koning van Frankrijk 1738

This is Johann Georg Wille's portrait of Lothair, King of France, made with engraving in the late eighteenth century. The image serves to elevate and memorialize the French monarch. Consider the visual codes. Lothair is depicted in profile, a common way to portray rulers and important figures in art. The use of an oval frame gives this print the appearance of a classical medallion, while the Latin inscription reinforces the historical associations and speaks to the enduring power of the monarchy. Made during the height of the Enlightenment, this engraving is a product of its time, speaking to the role of the monarchy during an era of societal change. Was this a self-consciously conservative image made to reinforce traditional institutions? To answer these questions, we need to examine this print through historical sources and understand its reception within eighteenth-century French society. The meaning of art changes according to its social and institutional context.