Portrait of Son Altesse Royale Madame, Duchesse d'Angoulême, Daughter of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette 1791

This is Augustin de Saint-Aubin’s engraving of Madame Royale, daughter of Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette. It is now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. In the late 18th century, portraiture was not just about capturing a likeness, but also about conveying social status and political allegiances. As the daughter of the King and Queen of France, Madame Royale's identity was inextricably tied to the monarchy, making her image a potent symbol of power and lineage. This engraving presents an idealized representation of Madame Royale, reinforcing the traditional representation of aristocratic femininity. The French Revolution dramatically impacted Madame Royale’s life. Consider how this image, produced before the revolution, contrasts with her later life of imprisonment and exile. What does it mean to have your identity so publicly defined, only to have that definition violently upended by historical events? This print serves as a poignant reminder of the personal tragedies that accompanied the sweeping political changes of the era.