Portrait of Louis Auguste, Heir Apparent of France 1779

Jacques Barbié created this print of Louis Auguste, Heir Apparent of France, using etching, sometime before 1779. The image shows the Dauphin in profile, framed by an ornate, laurel-like border, with his name inscribed around the edge. In eighteenth-century France, portraiture served as a powerful tool for constructing and disseminating images of authority. This print provides us with a window into the visual culture that upheld the monarchy. The Dauphin's powdered wig, luxurious fabrics, and the regal frame all work together to project an image of power and privilege. The print medium allowed for a wider distribution of the portrait. By studying such images alongside other historical sources, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and political landscape of pre-revolutionary France. The archives offer a rich collection of information that reveals the complex interplay between art, power, and society.