S.A.R. Mgr le Duc de Bordeaux...S.A.R. Mademoiselle...(Portr. du Comte de Chambord et la duchesse de Parme, enfants) 1822

Hyacinthe-Louis-Victor-Jean-Baptiste Aubry-Lecomte created this print of the Comte de Chambord and the duchesse de Parme in the early 19th century. The subjects were members of the French Royal family. This artwork is more than a mere depiction of childhood innocence; it operates within a complex web of political and familial history. The children represent the Bourbon line of succession after the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Empire. In portraying the children, Aubry-Lecomte visually emphasizes their lineage and potential to restore the monarchy. This carefully crafted image plays a role in shaping public perception and reinforcing the legitimacy and continuity of the Bourbon Dynasty. Consider the emotional weight carried by these children. They were symbols of hope for a return to tradition but also bore the burden of a past marked by upheaval and change. The print invites us to reflect on the interplay between personal identity and historical destiny.