Louis XV as a Roman Emperor 1745 - 1755

Michel François Dandré-Bardon sketched "Louis XV as a Roman Emperor" in sanguine. The figure is depicted with a commanding spear, draped in classical garb, a visual shorthand for power and authority reaching back to antiquity. This deliberate use of Roman iconography—the emperor’s dress and the spear—resonates with echoes of ancient Roman authority. Consider, for example, how Roman emperors were depicted in sculpture and coinage, often with similar attributes to legitimize their rule. This visual language reappears throughout history, adapted to new contexts. The intent here seems clear: to imbue Louis XV with the grandeur and legitimacy associated with the Roman Empire. The choice of sanguine, a blood-red chalk, is particularly striking. This medium lends the sketch an immediate and visceral quality, evoking the lifeblood of the empire. Such symbols, passed down through history, reveal the enduring human need to connect with powerful archetypes.