Portret van Lodewijk de Stamelaar 1642 - 1678

Nicolas de Larmessin I created this print, *Portret van Lodewijk de Stamelaar*, sometime between 1632 and 1694. Larmessin was one of a dynasty of prolific printmakers during the reign of Louis XIV, and his portraits were often aimed at celebrating and immortalizing prominent figures. This portrait depicts Louis II, known as Louis the Stammerer, King of France. It presents a vision of power and authority. Yet, it also prompts a reflection on the construction of masculinity and leadership through visual representation. Louis’s story is one marked by physical and possibly mental weakness, which sharply contrasts with the strength often associated with kingship. Larmessin attempts to merge Louis’s physical presence with the symbols of his authority. Consider how Larmessin navigates the tensions between Louis’s actual capabilities and the symbolic demands of his role. Does the portrait succeed in conveying power, or does it reveal the vulnerabilities inherent in inherited power?