Portrait of Louis XV 1739

This is Jacob Christoph Le Blon's "Portrait of Louis XV," displayed at the Art Institute of Chicago. The prominent symbols—the fleur-de-lis, the star, and the carefully arranged attire—speak volumes about the subject’s status. The star, gleaming on his chest, connects to ancient symbols of divinity and guidance. This emblem recurs through the ages, from Ishtar’s star in Mesopotamia to the star on the Magi's cloaks, each time signifying a powerful figure or divine mandate. Consider the psychological weight of such symbols. They are not mere decorations, but invocations of power. The conscious intent of the king and artist is less interesting than the subconscious symbols in the collective memory of the audience. Through Le Blon’s portrait, we witness the cyclical return of symbols, each time adapted, yet retaining echoes of its past.