Louis XVIII 1819

Editor: Here we have Jean-Baptiste-Raphael-Urbain Massard's portrait of "Louis XVIII." I’m immediately struck by the opulence. What do you make of all this pomp? Curator: It’s quite a production, isn’t it? I see Massard working within the visual vocabulary of power, literally draping Louis XVIII in the symbols of his restored monarchy. The ermine, the fleur-de-lis...it's almost theatrical, don't you think? He's trying to create an aura, but does it feel authentic? Editor: I see what you mean. It’s almost like he’s trying too hard. There's a tension between the regal staging and what feels like a very human, almost weary, figure at its center. Curator: Precisely! It makes you wonder what the artist thought about the whole spectacle. I keep coming back to that foot resting rather casually on the cushion. Editor: So, it’s not just a straightforward representation of power. There's room for a bit of skepticism, maybe? Curator: Absolutely. And I suppose that tension is what makes it interesting, even now. Editor: I never thought of royal portraiture as having so much to unpack!