Le sacre de Louis XV, roy de France & de Navarre, dans l'église de Reims, le dimanche XXV octobre MDCCXXII 1723

Pierre Dulin's engraving, "Le sacre de Louis XV," captures the regal aura of the French monarchy. A decorative cartouche dominates the composition, its ornate frame immediately drawing the eye. Angels, symbols of divine endorsement, flank the central text, enhancing the piece's sense of ceremonial importance. The cartouche serves as a structured space, carefully balancing text with symbolic ornamentation. This interplay is key; the inscription details Louis XV's coronation, while the surrounding motifs amplify his divinely sanctioned authority. The artist uses the visual language of power, typical of the era, to reinforce the king's legitimacy. Below, a landscape provides a grounding contrast to the ethereal quality of the cartouche. The image creates a dialogue between heavenly endorsement and earthly rule, suggesting that both realms are in harmony under Louis XV's reign. By examining these visual codes, we see how Dulin's engraving functions as both a historical record and a carefully constructed piece of political communication.