Marie Antoinette, Princess 1770

This engraving by Guillaume Phillipe Benoist, dated 1770, is a portrait of Marie Antoinette, Princess of France. The work, currently housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, depicts the future queen in profile, her elegant hair styled in the fashionable manner of the era. The image is framed by a double oval, emphasizing her regal status, and the inscription below identifies her as the Archduchess and sister of the Emperor, highlighting her imperial lineage. Benoist's masterful use of line creates a delicate and refined representation of this iconic figure.