Allegorie op het huwelijk tussen Lodewijk XVI van Frankrijk en Marie Antoinette 1770

This etching by Pierre Laurent Auvray, created in 1770, depicts an allegory of the marriage between King Louis XVI of France and Marie Antoinette. The scene is framed within an oval cartouche adorned with garlands of fruit and leaves, symbolizing abundance and prosperity. The central figures are two women representing France and Austria, their hands clasped together, signifying the union. A cherub, perhaps representing Cupid, holds a cornucopia, signifying the bountiful future of the new royal couple. This allegorical composition reflects the idealized image of the royal marriage as a source of stability and national prosperity, a sentiment prevalent during the Rococo period.