Portret van Lodewijk XVIII van Frankrijk 1775 - 1828

This print portrays Louis XVIII of France, and it was made by Louis Lecoeur. This image is fascinating for what it tells us about the restored French monarchy’s need to re-establish its legitimacy following the revolution. Note the overt visual codes of kingship. Louis is framed in an oval and wears an ermine-trimmed coat and the cross of the order of the Holy Spirit. Below him is the royal coat of arms complete with crown and fleur-de-lis. Surrounding the arms is a sunburst, a not-so-subtle reference to Louis XIV, the “Sun King.” The inscription at the bottom states that "the people, changed...recognize their true King." It's a reminder that Louis's claim to the throne depended on popular consent as much as divine right. To understand this image fully, we would want to study the print market of Restoration France and understand the institutions that produced and consumed such images. We would also need to know the precise date so we can measure this image against the unfolding political events of the time.