Portret van Louise d'Artois op dertienjarige leeftijd 1832

This is a portrait of Louise d’Artois at the age of thirteen, made by Antoine Catherine Adolphe Fonrouge, using an unknown technique, in an unknown location. The lithograph provides insight into the world of European aristocracy during a period of immense political and social upheaval. Louise was part of the French royal family, and this image, with its soft lines and idealized features, reinforces her status. In the early 19th century, portraiture of this kind played a crucial role in shaping public perception of the elite. It's interesting to consider this piece in the context of the Bourbon Restoration following the Napoleonic era, and the institutional role art played at that time in upholding traditional hierarchies. The historian would need to research the history of aristocratic portraiture in France, looking at patronage, the status of the sitter, and how art could be used as an instrument of propaganda.