Louis XV n.d.

Jean-Baptiste de Grateloup made this engraving of Louis XV sometime between 1735 and 1817. The image presents the King in profile, framed within a circle, and crowned with laurels. In France, royal portraiture served important symbolic and ideological functions. It presented the King as powerful, divinely sanctioned, and worthy of respect, playing a key role in constructing and maintaining the monarchy's authority. Consider how Louis is presented here in the style of an ancient Roman emperor, and how this would help Louis appear majestic and commanding, connecting his rule to the glory of the Roman empire. Understanding the codes and conventions of portraiture in 18th-century France is crucial to understanding the art's social role. Research into contemporary court culture, political theory, and the history of the French monarchy will certainly enrich our understanding of this image. Art always exists within a specific social and institutional context, and as historians, we must work to uncover these intricate connections.