Portret van Lodewijk van Frankrijk 1794 - 1846

Antoine Jean Baptiste Coupé created this portrait of Louis de France using etching and engraving. Louis de France, the Dauphin, was born into a world of privilege and expectation. As the heir to the French throne, his life was predetermined, shaped by the rigid protocols of the French monarchy. This portrait captures the weight of that destiny, the Dauphin’s gaze conveys a sense of both entitlement and constraint. Consider the symbolism embedded within this image, the armor, the ermine, each element speaks to the power and authority associated with the French monarchy. Yet, there is a vulnerability in the Dauphin’s expression, a hint of the human being beneath the trappings of royalty. This portrait invites us to reflect on the social structures that defined 18th-century France, and the lives of those caught within its web. It’s a window into a world of opulence and inequality, where identity was both a birthright and a burden.