Portret van Lodewijk XV van Frankrijk in een medaillon met twee putti 1734 - 1801

This is a print of Louis XV of France in a medallion with two putti, made by Noël Le Mire. It is an engraving, a medium that allowed for the relatively inexpensive reproduction and broad distribution of images. France in the 18th century was a society of orders, ruled by a divinely ordained king. Le Mire's print reproduces this ideology through an elaborate allegorical language. Louis is framed by the laurel wreath, a symbol of victory, and the inscription "Louis XV, the well-beloved". Below, two putti, figures derived from classical antiquity, display the emblems of royal power. Le Mire was a member of the Royal Academy of Arts. Prints like this one played an important role in constructing the public image of the monarchy, disseminating it among the elites and the broader population. They are invaluable resources for historians interested in the cultural and political history of France. They show us the visual codes that supported royal power.