Portrait of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and The Dauphin 1786 - 1796

Augustin de Saint-Aubin created this engraving, "Portrait of Louis XVI, Marie Antoinette and The Dauphin," to memorialize the French Royal Family. Executed before the French Revolution, the print offers insight into the cultural and political climate of pre-revolutionary France, where representations of the monarchy served as tools for constructing and maintaining royal authority. The image depicts the King, Queen, and their heir in profile, framed within an oval medallion, above an inscription tablet. Rendered in a classical style, the portrait evokes a sense of timelessness and grandeur. The composition reinforces the patriarchal structure of the monarchy, placing Louis XVI at the forefront, followed by Marie Antoinette and their son. Considered within the historical context of the French Revolution, the portrait offers a glimpse into the lives of the royal family before their tragic downfall, and the destruction of the Ancien Régime. It humanizes the figures, inviting viewers to reflect on the personal and emotional dimensions of history, and on the complex interplay between power, representation, and identity.